Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, Odds and Preview - 07/30/2021

Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, Odds and Preview - 07/30/2021

Game Time: 4:10 pm ET, Friday, July 30th, 2021

Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

Where to Watch: ESPN3, MLB Extra Innings, NESN, Bally Sports Sun

Season-to-Date Record:
Boston Red Sox:  W/L (63, 40 AmericanLeague East)
Tampa Bay Rays:  W/L (60, 42 American League East)

DraftKings: Red Sox +120 Ray -140; Over/Under: 8.5 runs

Key Injuries:
Boston: Boston:  Danny Santana (quad) Probable; Marwin Gonzalez (hamstring) Out; Christian Arroyo (hamstring) Out
Tampa Bay:  Nelson Cruz (ankle) Day to Day; Colin Poche (Elbow)Out

Boston Red Sox:

Hernandez (2B)
Verdugo (LF)
Martinez (DH)
Bogaerts (SS)
Devers (3B)
Renfroe (RF)
Duran (CF)
Vazquez (C)
Arroyo (1B)

Tampa Bay Rays: 

Lowe, 2B
Choi, 1B
Diaz, 3B
Meadows, DH
Arozarena, LF
Franco, SS
Kiermaier, CF
Zunino, C
BPhillips, RF
Patino, SP

Statistical Leaders:

Boston Red Sox:

Batting Average:  Bogaerts (.321)
Hits:  Bogaerts (105)
Home Runs:  Devers (22)
RBI:  Devers (74)
Stolen Bases:  Vazquez (8)
Wins:  Eovaldi (9)
Saves:  Barnes (19)
ERA:  Whitlock (1.38)

Team2:
Batting Average:  Arozarena (.256)
Hits: Arozarena (91)
Home Runs:  Brandon Lowe (22)
RBI:  Austin Meadows (71)
Stolen Bases: Brett Phillips (12)
Wins: Josh Fleming (7)
Saves:  Diego Castillo (14)
ERA:  Ryan Yarbrough (4.38)

Managers:

Boston Red Sox:  Alex Cora (3rd season)
Tampa Bay Rays:  Kevin Cash  (3rd season)

The Red Sox are 7-3 over their last ten games.  They are playing well and leading the league in the standings.  They have had quality wins over the Yankees and the Blue Jays in that stretch.  Holding on to their thin league leading record may depend entirely on the rapidly approaching Trade deadline and what shakes out of it.

The Rays are also 7-3 over their last ten games.  The Rays enter this game 2.5 games back of division and league leading Boston. They are threatening to catch Boston if only they had a chance to go head to head where the wins REALLY count... wait, they do!  3 games head to head starting with this one on Friday afternoon.  The Rays should be well rested too since Atlanta and Baltimore were their last two opponents.

Series History:

In 2021 the Red Sox are 4-2 against the Rays... but those 2 are the last 2.  The Red Sox got off to the hotter start and maybe the Rays are ready to finally catch-up.  

The Red Sox are 3rd in Runs batted in while the Rays are 4th.  The Red Sox are 2nd in hits while the Rays are 16th.  They are neck and neck in RBI's ( Boston 3rd, Rays 4th).  So the Rays score slightly more often on their hits.. while the Red Sox get slightly more hits.  There doesn't seem to be a true underdog offensively. 

Pitching may be where it's at.  The Rays are 4th in the league in ERA (3.53)... while the Red Sox are 13th in the league in ERA (4.04).  Starting Perez is why I believe the Red Sox enter this game as road underdogs despite the better record.

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The RedSox and Rays are due for an offensive explosion.  The clash of these teams matter in the Al East.  Neither are the New York Yankees. 

The Red Sox are planning to start Martin Perez ( 7-6 4.1 ERA) against the Rays' batters.  The Rays are as of yet undecided... which leads me to believe this is a bullpen game.  This actually works in the Rays' favor as Boston is coming off a tough four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Perez has pitched 94 average innings with a WHIP of 1.47, but he'll need to stay in front of the count to protect a tired from the last outing defense behind him.  The boys are finally away from Fenway park after a Tuesday rain delay that lead to a Wednesday doubleheader and Thursday night game.  It's up to this pitcher to stave off the Rays hitters early.  Average wont cut it against the Tampa Bay offense.

Neither team will sweep this best of 3 series.  I bet Boston drops the first then comes alive for the remaining road games.  The entire pitching staff will get a look instead of a big matchup.

Trends:

Red Sox: Are 6-4 money line over their last 10 games. The trend of Unders keeps plowing along with 6 in a row!

Blue Jays: Are 5-5 money line over the last 10 games.  They have 4 Unders in a row!

Our MLB Pick for Friday's game is Tampa Bay 7 Boston 2, take Over at 8.5 

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