The Boston Red Sox will be ready for an important game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tropicana Field. Every match is important as both teams find themselves around the .500 mark and could be looking for a win to keep their postseason aspirations alive. The game is on Tuesday which will allow the fans and the viewers to see it with ease. Given the standings and the context of the playoff race, this game does not just thrill the audience but also gives writers great reasons to write about, providing some of the best handicapper insights this season.
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays 9/17/24 Game Info and Odds |
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| When: | Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 6:50 PM ET |
| Where: | Tropicana Field |
| Watch: | NESN, ESPN, MLB.TV |
| Red Sox odds: | -185 Moneyline |
| Rays odds: | +155 Moneyline |
| Total Line: | 9.5 |
Boston Red Sox (75-75) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (73-77)
The Boston Red Sox sits at a .500 and has not been able to perform consistently in their last five outings. In other recent games, they won two against the New York Yankees (7-1) and Baltimore Orioles (5-3), showing their ability to make runs. However, losing to the Yankees on three different occasions 2-5, 4-5 and 1-2, proved that the team still has some catching up to do regarding the optimization of their performance in strenuous situations which posed some weaknesses moving forward to some more competitive teams.
| Boston Red Sox Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 15, 2024 | NYY | 2-5 | Lose |
| Sep 14, 2024 | NYY | 7-1 | Win |
| Sep 13, 2024 | NYY | 4-5 | Lose |
| Sep 12, 2024 | NYY | 1-2 | Lose |
| Sep 11, 2024 | BAL | 5-3 | Win |
In contrast, the Tampa Bay Rays, a bit behind on their record, also had a kind of mixed bag as well in their latest games. They beat Cleveland Guardians with scores of 3-1 and 5-2 sporting great defense and good pitching performances. However, the defeats to Cleveland Guardians 0-2, 1-6, and Philadelphia Phillies 2-3 highlight their worrying lack of focus when batting against quality pitching on the other end.
| Tampa Bay Rays Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 15, 2024 | CLE | 0-2 | Lose |
| Sep 14, 2024 | CLE | 1-6 | Lose |
| Sep 13, 2024 | CLE | 3-1 | Win |
| Sep 12, 2024 | CLE | 5-2 | Win |
| Sep 11, 2024 | PHI | 2-3 | Lose |
Nick Pivetta (5-10, 4.24 ERA) vs. Shane Baz (2-3, 3.28 ERA)
The Boston Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta will look back negatively at the season since his W-L record stands at 5-10 with an average ERA of 4.24. Even with 156 strikeouts in 129.1 innings pitched, he will have to battle certain issues like logging a high number of home runs which stand at 25 so far in the season and are likely to be worse in the offensive Tropicana Field. His performance will be crucial today, especially against a Rays team that knows how to take advantage of every little error in pitching.
Shane Baz of the Rays comes to this game with a better ERA of 3.28 but has pitched less than his counterpart with 60.1 innings pitched and a win-loss standing of 2-3. Given his k-bb ratio and control over the long ball (only 7 given up this season), there are signs of a more pitcher-centric strategy, which may benefit the Rays particularly if the Redsox bats go on a slump like they have recently.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Boston Red Sox -1.5 (-119), Total Odds: 9.5
The betting odds favor the Boston Red Sox with a -1.5 point spread at -119 and the total set at over 9.5 runs at -101. Given both teams’ recent performances and historical matchups, the game is expected to be close, with potential for either team to take the lead.
Boston Red Sox Betting Trends
The Red Sox have seen the total go UNDER in 5 of their last 6 games, suggesting a trend towards lower-scoring affairs, influenced by their pitching struggles and inconsistent batting. Their record of 1-8 SU in their last 9 road games raises concerns about their ability to perform away from Fenway Park, particularly against a team like the Rays, who have dominated them at home.
Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends
The Rays’ strong home record against the Red Sox (15-4 SU in their last 19 home games against Boston) and their recent underscoring games suggest a defensive game strategy. With the total going UNDER in 5 of their last 5 games, betting trends indicate a continuation of this pattern, especially with Baz on the mound, who has been effective at limiting opponent scoring.
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays 9/17/24 Betting Picks
While the performances and betting trends of the two teams recently studied suggest a slightly more competitive, although tight game with a minor preference for the Rays’ winning mares because they seem to have an excellent recent record against the Red Sox, it is fair to assume that the game would be pitched well with Shane Baz as Tampa Bay’s key pitching threat.
From the viewpoint of bettors interested in several their assortment, the UNDER on 9.5 should be taken quite seriously, given how both teams have played in their recent matches regarding total scores. The Rays at +155 represent good value and is thus deemed a recommended selection. For free daily MLB predictions, check out which player-specific prop bets offer the best additional value for the day’s games.