Red Sox at Rays MLB Odds & Predictions: The Boston Red Sox, with a 74-56 record, would be in the thick of, or leading most of the other divisions in Major League Baseball, but are stuck 5 1/2 games back in the American League East standings behind the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees as they watch those clubs slug it out for the top spot. Sunday night (8:05 pm ET, ESPN) the Red Sox get another chance to whittle down the gap as they wrap up a three game series with the Rays at the Trop in St. Pete.
The Rays will hand the ball to James Shields to start the game. A right-hander, Shield is 12-11 with a 4.76 ERA. Countering for the Red Sox will be veteran John Lackey. The Red Sox right-hander is 12-7 on the season with a 4.51 ERA.
MLB oddsmakers at Bodog.com list the Rays (with Shields the starter) as -140 moneyline favorites versus the Red Sox with a posted total of 8 1/2 runs. R ed Sox backers are getting +130 odds as the moneyline underdog (Lackey must start). The Rays are getting +140 (+1 1/2) on the run line while Boston is giving -160 (+130).
Dan Johnson belted a walkoff home run to give the Rays a 3-2 win over the Red Sox on Saturday, as -140 favorites. That game's five runs went UNDER the posted over/under (7.5) set by sportsbooks. B.J. Upton also went deep for the Rays, while Randy Choate closed out the 10th inning and got the win. Scott Atchison surrendered the winning run and was tagged with the loss.
MLB Predictions: In this pretty good pitching matchup, look for the total to fall UNDER the posted 8 1/2 runs.
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