Rays vs Red Sox Prediction
The top two teams in the Al Central will battle it out for the finale of a three-game series. The Red Sox were able to secure the win on Tuesday, and the Rays took the dub on Wednesday. This game has a significant impact on the standings, with the Rays being one game back of the Red Sox. Continue reading to find what my Rays vs Red Sox prediction is.
The Red Sox have been steady all year long. They post a 44-30 record and are 5-5 in the last 10 games. The offensive firepower has been what has propelled Boston all year long. They look to be serious contenders this year, as long as they continue to hit well because pitching has not been their strong suit.
The Tampa Bay Rays are a streaky team! They went on that fantastic run about a month ago where they rattled off 10 straight victories. Recently, they were on a 7 game losing streak, with 4 of those 7 heading to extra innings. This Rays team is resilient and is looking to win back-to-back games against the Red Sox to capture first place.
The Red Sox Offense is Not the Problem, But the Pitching Is
Boston’s lineup every day features Alex Verdugo, J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogoaerts, and Rafael Devers in the heart of it all. They have all been brilliant this year and have gotten the Red Sox third in the MLB in hits, runs, and average. Guys like Hunter Renfroe and Christian Vasquez have been solid as well.
In the first game of the series, Renfroe blasted a two-run dinger, and J.D. Martinez doubled to score two in the third inning. The matchup went into extra innings, and the Red Sox offense pulled through with consecutive hits in the 11th. On Wednesday’s game, Boston’s offense was not clicking, and they scored just two runs in an 8-2 loss.
The pitching rotation has missed Chris Sale so far. The bullpen has been worked hard in this series, as Garret Richards only pitched 1.2 innings in his game. Nick Pivetta takes the bump and has been solid all year with a 4.36 ERA and a 6-3 record. The Red Sox will be confident with Pivetta on the mound tonight.
The Rays Pitching and Defense Has Been Spectacular
With the arrival of Wander Franco in the big leagues, maybe the offense can get a boost in numbers too. But the pitching staff for the Rays has been incredible, ranking 7th in runs allowed, BAA, and ERA. The Rays lineup hasn’t been terrible, but it definitely could be better with the talent they have.
The first game of the series was the heavily awaited debut of Wander Franco. He blasted a three-run homer in the fifth, but it wasn’t enough for the victory. The next game, the Rays offense came to life and unloaded three homers against the Sox. One each for Brandon Lowe, Austin Meadows, and Mike Zunino.
I expect the offense to have a tough time tonight against Nick Pivetta, which will make Michael Wacha’s job much tougher. Wacha has a 1-2 record and a 5.19 ERA. The former Cardinal has pitched well, but I think the Red Sox offense comes out hot against him. I’m going to take the Red Sox in this game, with a score of 9-3.
