Yesterday the Rays and Red Sox renewed their heated rivalry as Boston got the better of their AL East rivals by a score of 5-3. Tonight the Rays will attempt to even the score when the two squads get together for game two of their three game season opening series. The first pitch is set to be thrown at 7:05pm ET at Fenway Park in Boston; the game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox MLB Picks at Bodoglife.com have the Red Sox listed as a -150 moneyline favorite. The game total is set at 8.5 with the under coming in at -115 odds.
The Red Sox looked more like the defending AL East champions yesterday, dismantling the Rays 5-3 on the strength of Josh Beckett's remarkable performance. Tampa Bay generated just two hits and one earned run off of the Texas hurler in seven innings. Beckett also struck out 10 while walking three.
Tampa Bay ace James Shields did not experience the same success. Shields worked 5.1 innings, giving up nine hits and five earned runs, which included long balls to Dustin Pedroia and Jason Varitek.
The dismal performance by the Rays was just another in a string of bad outings at Fenway Park. Tampa Bay has won just two of their last 10 games in Boston and they have averaged a horrific 2.8 runs per game in that span.
Tampa Bay will send left-hander Scott Kazmir to the mound this evening in the hope that he can end the team's string of bad Boston luck. Kazmir went 12-8 last year with a 3.49 ERA and the Rays were 3-3 in his six 2008 starts (four regular season, two post-season) against the Red Sox. The five year veteran worked 28.1 innings against Boston last season, giving up 32 hits and 23 earned runs. He had difficulty keeping the boys from Bean Town off the bases as he accrued 20 walks in his six starts.
Boston will counter Kazmir with their own southpaw, Jon Lester. Lester had a great 2008 season, going 16-6 with a 3.21 ERA and in the process moving his career record to an astounding 27-8. He went 3-0 versus the Rays in three regular season starts last year, working 19.3 innings and giving up just two earned runs. However, he had trouble with Tampa Bay in the playoffs as the Red Sox lost both of his ALCS starts against the Rays. In those outings, one at Fenway the other at Tropicana Field, Lester pitched 12.2 innings and gave up seven earned runs on 14 hits.
Bodoglife.com's Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox MLB Picks:
Tampa Bay Rays +1.5 (-155), +135 (Moneyline), Over 8.5 (-105)
Boston Red Sox -1.5 (+135), -150 (Moneyline), Under 8.5 (-115)
