Monday, September 01, 2014

Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Monday afternoon, Rubby De La Rosa (4 - 5, 3.81 ERA) will take his turn for the Boston Red Sox as they face Drew Smyly (9 – 10, 3.31 ERA) and the Tampa Bay Rays.  De La Rosa will make his 15th start as Smyly makes his 24th start and 27th appearance.

Rubby De La Rosa didn’t get the decision in his last start after a short outing.  De La Rosa pitched just 4.2 innings and allowed 3 runs and 7 hits.  He walked 2 batters without a single strikeout.  De La Rosa has struggled to find some consistency in his last few outings and that inconsistency shows in his 2 - 3 record in his last 10 starts.  In 2013, De La Rosa made 11 relief appearances en route to a 0 - 2 record and a 5.56 ERA.

De La Rosa made a relief appearance against the Rays in 2013 and he took the loss after allowing a run and 2 hits in just 0.1 innings of work.  Earlier this season, De La Rosa made his 1st start and got his 1st victory of the year over the Rays.

Drew Smyly picked up the victory in his last start after another solid start from the young lefty.   In 7 innings of work, Smyly surrendered just a run (on a solo homer) and 2 hits.  He walked a batter and struck out 6.  It was the 3rd win in 4 starts for Smyly, who has pitched well since coming over from the Detroit Tigers.  He is 5 - 3 in his last 10 outings.  In 2013, Smyly went 6-0-2 with a 2.37 ERA in 63 relief appearances for the Tigers.

Last season, Smyly went 1 – 0 with a 0.00 ERA in 2 relief appearances against the Red Sox.  This season, he beat Boston after holding them to 2 runs and 5 hits in 6 innings.              

Boston Red Sox Betting Trends

Boston Red Sox are 56-73-4 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Boston Red Sox is -0.5

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

Tampa Bay Rays are 60-67-7 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Tampa Bay Rays is 0.1

Injuries to Watch

Boston Red Sox

08/25/14 SS Xander Bogaerts Concussion 7-day DL (8/23)
08/01/14 RF Shane Victorino Back 15-day DL (7/30)
05/31/14 1B Ryan Lavarnway Wrist 60-day DL (5/30)

Tampa Bay Rays

06/24/14 LF Jerry Sands Wrist 60-day DL (6/22), out for season
06/19/14 LF David DeJesus Hand 15-day DL (6/19)
04/08/14 P Matt Moore Elbow 60-day DL (4/8), out for season
03/30/14 2B Tim Beckham Knee 60-day DL (3/30)

Tony's Pick: Take Tampa Bay

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