Friday, May 23, 7:10 PM on NESN, SUN

Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

Boston Red Sox - Lackey, J (5-3) vs. Tampa Bay Rays - Archer, C (3-2)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Friday night, the Boston Red Sox will give the ball to John Lackey as they take on the Tampa Bay Rays and Chris Archer. Both pitchers will be making their 10th starts of the season.

John Lackey took a loss in his last start and that dropped his record to 5 – 3 as his ERA rose to 4.01.  In the start, Lackey was torched for 6 runs on 9 hits (including a home run) in 5.1 innings as he walked 2 and struck out 4.  Lackey still should be able to better last year’s results when he went 10 – 13 with a 3.52 ERA in 29 at-bats. 

In 2013, Lackey was 0 – 1 with an 8.10 ERA in 2 starts against the Rays.  This season, he got a win against Tampa Bay after allowing just 2 runs on 6 hits in 8 innings of work.

Chris Archer improved his record to 3 – 2 and lowered ERA to 4.59 after getting the win his last time out.  In that start, Archer pitched 5.2 scoreless innings and allowed just 2 hits while walking 5 and striking out 5.  He could have lasted longer if not for the 104 pitches thrown.  It was the 3rd straight start that he threw 100 or more pitches in basically 5 innings.  Last season, he averaged just 91.4 pitches per start as he went 9 - 7 with a 3.22 ERA in 23 starts.

Last season, Archer lost both of his starts against the Red Sox.  This season, he pitched to a no decision against Boston after allowing 5 runs on 3 hits in 4.2 innings.         

Boston Red Sox Betting Trends

Boston Red Sox are 16-26-2 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Boston Red Sox is 0

Tampa Bay Rays Betting Trends

Tampa Bay Rays are 25-19-2 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Tampa Bay Rays is 0.5

Injuries to Watch

Boston Red Sox

05/20/14 P Felix Doubront Shoulder questionable
05/17/14 3B Will Middlebrooks Finger 15-day DL (5/16)
04/09/14 P Steven Wright Hernia 60-day DL (3/21)

Tampa Bay Rays

05/20/14 C Ryan Hanigan Hamstring questionable
05/15/14 2B Ben Zobrist Thumb 15-day DL (5/14)
04/08/14 P Matt Moore Elbow 15-day DL (4/8), out for season
03/30/14 2B Tim Beckham Knee 15-day DL (3/30)
03/28/14 P Jeremy Hellickson Elbow 15-day DL (3/30)

Tony's Pick: Take Boston

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