Rays vs Red Sox Odds - Red Sox end Tampa Bay's hopes for 2009
Tampa Bay was the MLB betting darling of last year, but inconsistency has plagued it in 2009 and it's fallen off the pace. The Rays head to Fenway Park for a three-game set with Boston, which leads the American League Wild Card race, and the experienced Red Sox will take a sword to the Rays’ already-slim playoff hopes.
Rays vs Red Sox Odds: Rays can start planning for next year
- Shields can’t stop Fenway jinx
- Beckett comes alive in September
- Garza stops a Boston sweep
Friday, September 11, 7:10 p.m. ET
Rays vs Red Sox Odds: James Shields (9-10, 4.02) vs Jon Lester (12-7, 3.44)
Shields has given up 10 runs, including four homers, in his last 13.1 innings of work, and he hasn’t fared that well against the Red Sox in 2009, sporting a 1-2 mark with a 5.79 ERA. Lester’s numbers against the Rays are similar, as the southpaw is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA, but he’s coming off a four-hitter over seven innings of a 6-1 win for the Red Sox. Lester gets the online betting edge here as the Red Sox are -200 favorites at home, while Shields has lost all five of his career starts at Fenway Park. Rays vs Red Sox Betting Edge: Boston
Saturday, September 12, 7:10 p.m. ET
Rays vs Red Sox Odds: Wade Davis (0-0, 1.29) vs Josh Beckett (14-6, 3.87)
Davis had a great debut in the majors, as he scattered a run on three hits over seven innings while striking out nine, but he took a no-decision in a 5-3 loss to Detroit. He’ll run into a slumping Beckett who hasn’t won in five starts, but at least he didn’t get taken deep in a 5-1 loss in Chicago. Beckett is 1-0 in four starts against the Rays in 2009, and he needs to break out of this funk if the Red Sox are going to hold off Texas in the Wild Card race. The sportsbook edge has to go to Beckett based on experience and a 2.97 career ERA in September. Rays vs Red Sox Betting Edge: Boston
Sunday, September 13, 1:35 p.m. ET
Rays vs Red Sox Odds: Matt Garza (7-9, 3.85) vs Clay Buchholz (5-3, 3.92)
Garza gives the Rays their best chance at a win this weekend, as he’s 2-0 in five starts against the Red Sox this year with a 2.55 ERA. He’s now 5-1 in 11 career starts while facing Boston and he’s even 3-1 at Fenway Park. Buchholz won’t back down, as he’s 2-1 in three outings against the Rays in 2009, and he’s 4-0 in his last five starts. The young righty is starting to show why his name always comes up when teams are in trade talks with the Red Sox and, considering the way he’s tossed this year, it’s pretty safe to say he’ll be in the rotation next year. This will be a low-scoring affair, but the Rays get the nod in the finale. Rays vs Red Sox Betting Edge: Tampa Bay
MLB betting breakdown: Outlook and Pick
Boston came into this series with a 9.5-game lead in the Wild Card race over Tampa Bay, and it’ll put the Rays’ season to bed this weekend. They still need to work on a couple things down the stretch, but the Red Sox will make this a two-horse race now. DALE’S PICK: Red Sox to win two of three
For more sports betting picks and tips, visit us in the Betting Edge at BetOnline.com. For more on the Rays vs Red Sox matchup, check out our stats section. Dale Lalonde is BetOnline.com's MLB expert.
