In our MLB predictions for Friday, we are taking a closer look at the American League East showdown from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, to find out the best Red Sox vs Rays betting pick and odds. Boston meets Tampa Bay for the first time in 2022, as they open a three-game series at The Trop. The Red Sox will send Michael Wacha to the mound, while the Rays will counter with Corey Kluber.
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Red Sox vs Rays Betting Pick
This game will be played at Tropicana Field at 7:10 PM ET on Friday, April 22, 2022.
Why Bet The Rays:
✅ The Tampa Bay Rays got things going at the plate, scoring 14 runs over their previous two outings. They beat the Chicago Cubs 8-2 in six innings and 6-5 to clinch a three-game set at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Now, the Rays are slashing .256/.323/.400 while leading the majors in extra-base hits with 31. Wander Franco boasts a .392/.396/.627 triple-slash, while Ji-Man Choi, Brandon Lowe, and Francisco Mejia have combined for seven home runs thus far.
✅ The Boston Red Sox are off to a shaky start. They’ve lost three of their previous four contests, scoring only eight runs in the process. Now, the Red Sox are carrying an underwhelming .233/.284/.370 slash line. They could easily continue to struggle in the pitcher-friendly environment at Tropicana Field.
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✅ The Rays have won eight of their previous 11 encounters with the Red Sox at The Trop. Tampa Bay is way more dangerous when playing in front of the home fans. The Rays have gone 19-11 over their last 30 showings at home, while the Red Sox have won only nine of their previous 30 road contests when listed as underdogs.
Boston Red Sox
The Sawx are coming off a three-game home set against the Toronto Blue Jays. After winning the opener 2-1, the Red Sox lost the next two games, 6-1 and 3-2. They fell to 6-7 on the season, and the Sawx will start a ten-game road trip Friday at Tampa.
Michael Wacha will toe the slab in the opening clash against the Rays. He spent the last season with Tampa Bay, posting a pedestrian 5.05 ERA across 124.2 innings of work (23 starts and six relief apps). Through his first two starts in the Red Sox uniform, the 30-year-old right-hander has allowed only one earned run on three hits and five walks through 9.1 frames of work. The current Rays have a .914 OPS in 29 at-bats against Wacha.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays are coming off a three-game road series against the Chicago Cubs. They lost the opener 4-2, but the Rays bounced back with a 6-5 victory in the middle contest while thrashing off the Cubs 8-2 in the closer.
Corey Kluber will toe the rubber Friday against the Sawx. The 36-year-old veteran righty has thrown 9.2 frames in his first two starts of the new season, allowing a couple of earned runs on seven hits and four walks in the process. The current Red Sox own a poor .448 OPS in 96 at-bats against Kluber.