With lefty Scott Kazmir (7-3, 2.28 ERA) as the starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays today, the task of making a free baseball prediction comes fairly easily. Even if the young left hander is going against probably the second best team in major league baseball, the Boston Red Sox. So if Boston is the second best team in baseball then who is the first? Probably Tampa Bay and even more so with Scott Kazmir on the mound. The Rays have taken the first two games of this series with Boston and look to win three straight but will have to get the win against Boston right hander Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-1, 3.21).
Free Baseball Predictions Betting Line: Oddsmakers at sports betting giant Sportsbook.com have installed the Rays as -141 money line favorites with a 7.5 run total. Red Sox backers are getting +132 money line odds.
Rays manager Joe Maddon said Kazmir didn't have his best stuff in his last start against the Pirates. The Rays ace agreed, saying his slider and changeup were not up to par. However, he did manage to limit Pittsburgh to three earned runs in five innings. He will need to do a much better job against the Red Sox, against whom he is 6-6 with a 2.82 ERA against in his career. His last start against Boston came May 4. Kazmir left after four innings and four runs. Kazmir is 6-6 when starting against Boston with an ERA of 2.82 and a WHIP of 1.301.His team's record is 9-9 (+6.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 7-11(-4.5 units).
In his final start before All-Star selections are revealed, Matsuzaka will go after his 10th victory in the finale of a three-game series against the Rays. Matsuzaka's fired five shutout innings in beating the Astros in his last start. This, after he lasted just one inning (plus three batters in the second) in his return from the disabled list against the Cardinals. Matsuzaka is holding opponents to a .206 average. He is 4-0 with a 2.20 ERA in six road starts this season. Matsuzaka is 1-3 when starting against Tampa Bay with an ERA of 4.09 and a WHIP of 1.212.His team's record is 2-3 (-4.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-2 (+0.5 units).
The Rays won their fourth straight over the Red Sox at home with a 3-1 victory on Tuesday, as -125 favorites. The four runs fell UNDER the posted over/under (8.5).
Dioner Navarro went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in two runs for the Rays. Matt Garza tossed seven innings for the win, allowing one run off five hits.
J.D. Drew drove in the only run for the Red Sox with a sacrifice fly. Tim Wakefield surrendered two runs over seven innings of work in the loss.
The Red Sox were +110 underdogs in that game.
Today's Free Baseball Prediction: Tampa Bay wins SU -141 ML
