MLB Free Picks – Red Sox vs Rays

Friday night marks the first time the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays meet this season as they open a three game series at Fenway Park in Boston. The Rays send right-hander Wade Davis to the mound while the Red Sox counter with their ace, Josh Beckett.

The MLB betting odds heavy in favor of the Red Sox with Beckett on the mound, as they are -175 on the moneyline, the comeback on the Rays is +155. The game total is 9 runs.

Baseball Betting Odds

April 16, 2010

Tampa Bay Rays +1½ -130 +155

Wade Davis – R

Boston Red Sox -1½ +110 -175

Josh Beckett – R

Game Total 9

Location: Fenway Park, Boston MA

Game Time: 7:10pm

TV: SUN, NESN

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The Rays and Sox will be in a dogfight all year long with the Yankees for the AL East title but they know there is only room for two in the playoffs, if as per usual; the AL East produces the wildcard team. That makes every game of their 19 meetings this year extremely important.

In tonight’s game the Red Sox have a distinct advantage by sending Josh Beckett to the mound, Beckett has been very solid against the Rays over his career, 7-4 and 3.68 ERA in 15 meetings. Beckett will be asked to carry the load for Boston, as the team is unsure what they can get from their lineup, Jacoby Ellsbury is unsure of a return from a bruised rib cage and Mike Cameron is out with possible appendicitis. However, the biggest absence for the Red Sox has been David Ortiz, Ortiz is still in the lineup but he is less than a shadow of the man he used to be when the Sox won two World Series. David Ortiz has 13 strikeouts in his past 26 at bats, as great as he was, it looks like Ortiz’s career as a major leaguer is over but he just doesn’t know it yet.

Dustin Pedroia has been the offensive sparkplug, hitting four homeruns and driving in 10 RBI but he hasn’t been enough as the Red Sox are one game under .500 at 4-5 and if you bet the Red Sox, you are down -2.45 units on the season.

For the Rays, Wade Davis faced, Beckett and the Red Sox last season as a late season call up, it didn’t go well. Davis gave up eight runs in 2 2/3 innings. In his first start this season, Davis gave up four runs over six to the New York Yankees. In that game Davis gave up 7 hits and 4 walks, he’ll need much better control if the Rays stand a chance in this game.

Offensively for the Rays, B.J. Upton has been one of the few Rays to have some success against Josh Beck , going 6 for 20 against him heading into Friday’s matchup at Fenway Park.

I don’t trust the Red Sox offense to come through but Beckett who has been dominant at home should hold the Rays batters in check though. I like the Under 9 runs more than I like either team in this game.