The Boston Red Sox will aim to complete a series sweep over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Boston is holding a slim lead in the AL Wild Card chase and needs to keep winning to avoid being overtaken by the teams beneath them. Here, I will break down this AL East matchup and bring you my Red Sox vs Rays prediction for Sunday evening.
Our Red Sox vs Rays Pick
- Pick: Red Sox -1.5
- Confidence: 3/5
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays
- Date & Time: Sunday, September 21, 2025, 7:35 PM EDT
- Starting Pitchers: Connelly Early (BOS) vs. Joe Boyle (TB)
- Stadium: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL
- Broadcast: NESN, FS Sun
Key Storylines
Pitching Matchup
Connelly Early takes the mound for the Red Sox with an impressive 1–0 record with a 0.87 ERA in his debut season. Early has demonstrated exceptional control and strikeout ability, averaging 15.7 strikeouts per nine innings. His dominant performance in his previous start, allowing just one run over six innings, has solidified his role in the rotation for the Sox.
Opposing Early is Joe Boyle for the Rays. Boyle is a right-handed pitcher with a 1–3 record and a 4.64 ERA. His ERA is 6.28 since the All-Star break, and Tampa Bay has a 4–7 record in games he has started this season. Boyle’s struggles against left-handed hitters could be exploited by Boston’s potent lineup.
Recent Team Streaks
- Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox have won two games in a row and four of their last five.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Tampa has dropped two games in a row and three of their last five.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Trevor Story | Over 0.5 RBI |
| Masataka Yoshida | Over 1.5 Total Bases |
| Joe Boyle | Under 4.5 Strikeouts |
Betting Trends & H2H
- Boston holds a 10-2 lead in the season series against the Rays.
- The Red Sox have won eight games in a row against the Rays over the course of this season.
- This is the final regular-season matchup scheduled between these teams in 2025.
Red Sox vs Rays Model Projection
- Score Projection: Red Sox 5 – Rays 3
- Win Probability: Red Sox 60%, Rays 40%
Final Thoughts
The Red Sox enter Sunday’s game with a clear advantage, both in terms of recent performance and tonight’s pitching matchup. Connelly Early’s dominance on the mound and Boston’s offensive depth provide a strong foundation for a series sweep. While Tampa Bay’s offense, led by Yandy Díaz, poses a threat, the Rays’ inconsistency and Boyle’s struggles make it challenging for them to overcome the Red Sox’s momentum. I’ll back the Sox to cover the runline as a favorite and close out the sweep of the Rays.
