The Tampa Bay Rays can take a commanding 2-0 lead on the Boston Red Sox in the American League Division Series when the teams collide in Game 2 on Friday night at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Rays won Game 1 of this 2021 MLB playoffs series on Thursday night with a 5-0 victory over Boston, which had flown to South Florida after beating the Yankees in the Wild Card game on Tuesday night. On Friday lefty Chris Sale (5-1, 3.16 ERA), who missed most of the season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, will start for the Red Sox. He will face 22-year-old rookie Shane Baz, who will be making just his fourth career start.
Tampa Bay is the -140 favorite (risk $140 to win $100) in the latest Red Sox vs. Rays odds from Caesars Sportsbook while Boston is a +130 underdog. The over-under for total runs scored is 7.5. First pitch is at 7:02 p.m. ET. Before making any Rays vs. Red Sox picks, be sure to see the MLB playoff predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven model.
This model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, enters the 2021 MLB playoffs with a 206-173 record on top-rated MLB money-line picks, returning well over $800. It also had a banner 2019 season, the league’s last full schedule, returning more than $1,400 on its top-rated money-line and run-line MLB picks. Anyone following it has seen some huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Red Sox vs. Rays and he just revealed his MLB playoff 2021 picks and analysis. You can head to SportsLine now to see the picks. Now, here are several MLB playoffs odds and betting lines and trends for Rays vs. Red Sox:
- Rays vs. Red Sox money line: Tampa Bay -140, Boston +130
- Rays vs. Red Sox run line: Tampa Bay -1.5 (+145)
- Rays vs. Red Sox over-under: 7.5 runs
- TB: Relievers led the AL with a 3.23 ERA.
- BOS: Rafael Devers tied for fourth in the AL in RBI (113).
Featured Game | Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox
Why you should back the Rays
Tampa Bay lit up Sale the last time the Rays faced him. On Sept. 6, Tampa Bay scored five runs on 10 hits in 3⅔ innings off Sale in an 11-10 victory. Those were the most hits and runs allowed by Sale all season.
In addition, Randy Arozarena has been a gem in the postseason. In 26 career playoff games, Arozarena has a 1.261 OPS with 11 home runs, 15 RBI and a .361 batting average. In Thursday’s Game 1 he became the first player in playoff history to steal home and hit a home run in the same game.
Why you should back the Red Sox
Rafael Devers is having a career season for Boston. The Red Sox third baseman had a career-high 38 homers while also driving in 113 runs this season for Boston. He also has had a hot bat recently. Devers had two home runs in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Nationals and was 2-for-4 with a pair of walks and a run in the Wild Card win against the Yankees.
In addition, the Red Sox have one of the best lineups in the American League. Led by Devers, Boston hit .261 this season and had a .777 OPS. Both ranked third in the league. The Red Sox also ranked fifth in the AL in runs (829).
How to make Red Sox vs. Rays picks
The model is leaning over on the total, projecting 9.9 combined runs. It also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get that pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Red Sox vs. Rays? And which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of Red Sox vs. Rays you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed it MLB picks, and find out.
