Boston Red Sox (5-5) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (10-0)
April 12, 2023 6:40 pm EDT
The Line: Tampa Bay Rays -132 / Boston Red Sox +105; Over/Under: +7.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays meet Wednesday in MLB action from Tropicana Field. This will be the finale in a three-game series. The Rays took a close win in the opener, then on Tuesday Tampa Bay kept it going with a five-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Boston Red Sox
Boston couldn’t find much success on Monday, posting just three team hits in a 1-0 loss. In the Tuesday game two, the Red Sox were out-hit 11-6 in a 7-2 defeat. Starter Garrett Whitlock put up 5.0 innings with five earned on eight hits.
For the Wednesday starter job, the Sox will turn to Chris Sale. This year Sale is 1-0 with a 11.25 ERA over two starts. He has 13 Ks in 8.0 total innings. In his MLB career, Sale is 115-75 with a 3.07 ERA in 325 games (245 starts).
Tampa Bay Rays
Over on the Tampa Bay side, they posted five hits in the Monday game, finally breaking through in the eighth inning with their lone run. On Tuesday the Rays scored twice in both the fifth and seventh innings during the victory. Shane McClanahan lasted 5.0 innings in the start with one earned on two hits and four walks.
Zach Eflin will make the start for the Rays on Wednesday. In his two starts this year Eflin is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 11.0 innings. He’s 38-45 in his career with a 4.47 ERA in 129 games (117 starts).
The Red Sox are 4-10 in their last 14 Wednesday games and 3-9 in their last 12 road games. The under is 5-1 in Boston’s last six Wednesday games.
Meanwhile, the Rays are 16-5 in their last 21 versus a lefty starter and 36-15 in their last 51 at home. Tampa Bay is 1-4 in their last five Wednesday games.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’m going to stay with Tampa Bay. The Rays are off to a great start so far, and Eflin has done his part in his pair of starts. Over 11.0 innings Eflin has given up four earned on 11 hits and just one walk; he should be able to put up a good line here as well. On Tuesday the Rays had a pretty smooth all-around game with four different players notching multiple hits. Tampa Bay is looking great to start out the season, and I think they’ll keep it going here to make it another sweep.
