Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 5/20/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Monday, May 20, 2024

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: Bally Sports Sun

Odds/Point Spread: Boston (-106) Tampa Bay (-110)

Tropicana Field is the site where the Tampa Bay Rays (25-23) will try to beat the Boston Red Sox (23-24) on Monday. The moneyline on this contest has the Red Sox at -106 while the Rays are at -110. The over/under has been set at 7.5. The pitchers who are expected to start are Tanner Houck and Taj Bradley.

The Red Sox have hit 86 two-baggers as a unit and have hit 47 balls out of the park. Boston has a slugging percentage of .401 and have struck out 448 times, while drawing a walk on 144 occasions. As a team, the Boston Red Sox are earning 4.3 runs per game, which ranks them 17th in baseball. They have compiled 189 runs batted in as well as 381 base knocks for the year, and their average at the plate is sitting at .243. They have tallied 196 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .314.

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The Red Sox hold a team earned run average of 3.03 this year (2nd in the league), and their staff has rung up 390 batters. Red Sox pitchers have allowed 41 home runs and 176 total runs (10th in MLB). They have walked 121 batters and their FIP comes in at 3.59 as a team over the course of the season. Boston has allowed 355 hits (7.8 per 9 innings) and 139 earned runs. They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.22 and the pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.16.

The Red Sox relievers have earned a save percentage of 52.6% and has stepped onto the mound in 41 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 45 base runners for the season and 35.6% of those runners earned a run for their team. Red Sox relief pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 36 times as well as having 57 appearances in high leverage situations. The Red Sox have sent 147 relief pitchers to the mound this year. The relief pitchers have notched 21 holds this season (26th in baseball). They have 10 saves for the year and have missed out on 9 out of their 19 save opportunities.

The Boston Red Sox have accumulated 1,237 putouts this year, in addition to 408 assists and 37 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .978 which puts them in 30th in the majors, and have 31 double plays. The Red Sox have converted 70.2% of balls hit into play into outs out of 3,711 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 13th in baseball.

Houck has pitched in 310 innings and has 320 strikeouts in his pro baseball career. Houck (18-24 career mark) is the owner of a FIP of 3.32 while going up against 1,293 batters in the majors. His ERA is 3.54 (122 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.187. He has surrendered 264 hits (7.7 hits per nine innings) and has had 104 free passes.

Tampa Bay has recorded 40 home runs for the season as well as 178 RBIs. They have tallied 66 two-baggers, while taking a walk 149 times and recording 196 runs. The Tampa Bay Rays have earned an on-base percentage of .316 as well as a team batting average of .244 so far this season. The Rays have a slugging percentage of .368 and they are earning 4.17 runs per contest (20th in the league). They have been called out on strikes on 428 occasions (6th in baseball) and have notched a total of 385 hits.

The Rays have a team WHIP of 1.255 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.23 as a staff for the year. They are sitting at 24th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 396. The Tampa Bay pitching staff have relinquished 222 runs so far this year while holding an ERA of 4.30 (202 earned runs yielded). They currently have a K/BB ratio of 8.50 (401 strikeouts vs 135 free passes). They have conceded 61 homers and they yield 4.72 runs per 9 innings (20th in the league).

Tampa Bay has had bullpen pitchers take the mound in 26 save chances and they have converted 16 saves. They rank 17th in baseball with a save percentage of 61.5%, and they have dispatched 151 relievers onto the field on the campaign. Their bullpen pitchers have taken the field 72 times in high leverage situations and also on 36 occasions with base runners. Tampa Bay relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 23.5% of 51 inherited runners. With 62 save situations, the Rays have earned 35 holds and also 10 blown saves.

In their 3,813 innings on the diamond, the Rays have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 70.1% (14th in baseball). The Tampa Bay Rays have gotten 31 double plays and have a fielding rate of .984 (16th in the majors). The Rays have racked up 361 assists, 27 errors and have earned 1,271 putouts this year.

Bradley (6-9 win-loss record in his career) has earned a 5.29 ERA while allowing 8.9 hits per nine innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.38 and he has faced 504 hitters during his MLB career. He has conceded 68 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.349 and a FIP of 4.6. So far in his MLB career, Bradley has conceded 114 base knocks and he has 142 K's in 115 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Tampa Bay (-110)

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