Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, Pick and Preview, April 22 (4/22): MLB

Credit: photo by Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

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Preview

The Boston Red Sox will visit the Tampa Bay Rays to play a 3-game series at the Tropicana Field. The Red Sox lost their last series against the Blue Jays while the Rays beat the Cubs 2-1.

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox get to this game with a 6-7 record and are 3-3 on the road. The team is averaging 3.85 runs and allowing 4 runs per game. Alex Verdugo is leading the team with 3 home runs and 9 RBI while Xander Bogaerts is batting for .354 AVG.

Nathan Eovaldi leads the pitching staff with 1 win recorded and a 3.68 ERA with 19 strikeouts.

Probable Pitcher: 

Michael Wacha (0-0, 0.96 ERA) will take the mound in the 1st game of the series for the Red Sox. Wacha allowed a hit and two walks while striking out five in five scoreless innings in Sunday's win over the Twins. He didn't factor into the decision. Wacha threw 72 pitches during his season debut Monday against Detroit, and he had a slight uptick in his workload by throwing 79 pitches during Sunday's sharp outing.

Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays get here with a 7-6 record and are 4-3 at home. The team is averaging 4.62 runs while allowing 4.26 runs per game. Wander Franco leads the team, batting for a .392 avg Brandon Lowe has 7 RBI and 3 home runs.

Shane McClanahan allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits across six innings in Monday's loss to the Cubs. He struck out nine and did not factor in the decision. 

Probable Pitcher:

Corey Kluber (0-0, 1.86 ERA) will be on the mound for the Rays in the 3rd game of the series. Kluber allowed two earned runs on four hits and no walks while striking out four across five innings Saturday against the White Sox. He did not factor into the decision. In his last 3 games against the Red Sox he has a 2.14 ERA. 

BETTING TRENDS

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 6 games.

Boston are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay are 9-4 SU in their last 13 games at home.

Tampa Bay are 8-3 SU in their last 11 games when playing at home against Boston.

Prediction

The Rays have been hitting hard lately and are averaging 6.25 runs in their last 4 games while the Red Sox struggled against the Blue Jays. Tampa Bay are 8-3 in their last 11 games when playing at home against Boston and Korey Cluber has been good against them. Take the Rays to win the first at home.

PICK: Rays ML  (-140)

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