TOM'S 25-8 MLB GRAND SLAM DIVISION BEST BET
- Handicapper
- Tom Stryker
- League
- MLB
- Competition
- Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays
- Time
- 07/30/2021 07:10 PM
- Bet Type
- Moneyline
- Pick
-
Boston Red Sox +128
(BetOnline)
- Outcome
- Loss
- Analysis
- #917 BOSTON with Perez (-) over Tampa Bay with Fleming at 7:10 PM EST
Checking in embarrassed of Thursday's 13-1 home loss to the Blue Jays, the Red Sox will travel to "The Trop" and scoop up a huge division victory. Tampa Bay enters this AL East war nice and fat off yesterday's 14-0 blowout home win over New York (Yankees) and the Devil Rays are in prime position to fall.
Toeing the rubber for the BoSox will be left-hander Martin Perez. In his last two outings against the mighty Bronx Bombers lineup, No. 54 threw well allowing six earned runs and 11 hits in 10.0 innings. Perez whiffed 11 and walked three on his way to an 0-1 mark with a 5.40 ERA. Thankfully, Martin has been at his best this season on foreign soil. As a guest, Perez has been nicked for only 12 earned runs and 40 hits in 43.2 frames. That's good enough for a 4-2 record and a lights out 2.47 ERA.
Young left-hander Josh Fleming will get the nod for the Rays. Matched up against the Indians and Braves in his last two performances, No. 19 was hammered for 10 earned runs and 14 hits in 8.1 innings of work. Fleming struck out two, walked three, and served up three home runs on his way to an 0-1 tally and a stiff 10.80 ERA. Pitching under the lights has been an issue for Josh too. At night, Fleming has been slammed for 25 earned runs and 48 hits in 44.2 frames. That equates to a dismal 2-3 mark and a soft 5.04 ERA.
Plenty of reliable team trends support this investment. Boston has won 13 of its last 16 when playing on Friday, 25 of its last 33 in the first game of a series, nine of its last 12 when facing a foe that scored five runs or more last, and 29 of its last 41 against division foes. On the other side of the bubble, Tampa Bay has dropped five of its last seven in this series.
The BoSox own a slim 1.5-game lead in the AL East and manager Alex Cora's boys will need to take advantage of this pitching mismatch. Take Boston with Perez. Thanks and best of luck, Tom.
