The Boston Red Sox blew out the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, and the teams now clash at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts at 4:10 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 12 for the rubber match in this three-game series.
Will Boston pull off a big series win in this massive AL East battle? Find out in our Rays vs. Red Sox picks and predictions.
Rays vs Red Sox game info
• Location: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
• Date: Thursday, August 12, 2021
• Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
• TV: Bally Sports Sun, NESN
Rays vs Red Sox odds
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Rays vs Red Sox betting preview
Starting pitchers
Drew Rasmussen (1-1, 4.09 ERA): The Rays are the pioneers of the opener, and that’s exactly the role Rasmussen will be serving in this one. The righty is taking the ball first in what is sure to turn into a bullpen game for Tampa Bay. Rasmussen has been pretty solid this season, so he should be able to get through two or three innings of decent work. From there, the Rays will be leaning heavily on a bullpen that has the second-best combined ERA in baseball.
Nick Pivetta (8-5, 4.34 ERA): After allowing no earned runs in his first 11.2 innings of work against the Rays this season, Pivetta gave up three earned in just 4.2 innings of work against Tampa Bay on August 1. Boston will be hoping that Pivetta just didn’t have it in that game, as the team needs the righty’s best in order to come away with the win here. The 28-year-old did throw six shutout innings against the Toronto Blue Jays in his last trip to the mound.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Rays: OF Kevin Kiermaier (questionable), RP Nick Anderson (out)
Red Sox: OF Alex Verdugo (out), OF Kyle Schwarber (out)
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Red Sox are 15-6 in their last 21 home games. Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Red Sox.
Moneyline pick
Rasmussen can give the Rays a huge boost if he’s able to come out and pitch well for a few innings, but there’s a chance he’ll struggle with the Red Sox here. In fact, Boston gave the righty some trouble back on August 1, when Rasmussen pitched 1.2 innings and gave up a run. He walked two batters and gave up two costly hits in that one, and the Sox will likely be confident that they can put something together against the righty. On top of that, this Boston offense must be feeling really good after scoring 20 runs on Wednesday, so a bullpen game isn’t going to intimidate this group.
Pivetta is coming off an excellent start against the Blue Jays, and he’ll now face a Rays team that he has been able to find success against this season. Pivetta has a 1.65 ERA against Tampa Bay this year, and he pitched five scoreless innings against the Rays in his only start against them at Fenway. It’s not likely that he’ll be able to completely blank them in this one, but we like his chances of outperforming the Tampa Bay bullpen for five or six innings.
PREDICTION: Red Sox ML (-110)
Over/Under pick
These teams combined to score 12 on Tuesday and then 28 on Wednesday. The Sox also lost in a 9-8 game against the Blue Jays in the final game of their last series, and all three of the Rays’ games against the Orioles went Over the total last series.
Both of these teams are really seeing the ball well right now, and it’s not like either of them have a legitimate stud on the mound here. This total is definitely set a bit high, but it’s that way for a reason. This should be another high-scoring game.
PREDICTION: Over 10.5 (-110)
Rays vs Red Sox betting card
- Red Sox ML (-110)
- Over 10.5 (-110)
Picks made on 8/12/2021 at 9:55 a.m. ET
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