Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 9/18/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: NESN

Tropicana Field is the location where the Tampa Bay Rays (73-77) will meet the Boston Red Sox (75-75) on Wednesday. The starting pitchers are Cooper Criswell and Ryan Pepiot.

As a team, the Boston Red Sox are scoring 4.7 runs per contest, which is 9th in baseball. They have racked up 710 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .321. The Red Sox have accrued 291 two-baggers as a unit and have smacked 186 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accrued 684 RBI's as well as 1,323 hits this season, and their batting average comes in at .255. Boston has a slugging % of .430 and have been rung up 1,455 times, while drawing a walk on 454 occasions.

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The Red Sox have compiled a team ERA of 4.12 over the course of the season (18th in baseball), and the staff has rung up 1,264 hitters. Red Sox pitchers have conceded 183 home runs in addition to 706 runs in total (23rd in MLB). They have walked 427 hitters and their FIP comes in at 4.17 as a unit for the year. Boston has surrendered 1,266 base hits (8.5 per 9 innings) and 615 earned runs. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.96 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.26.

Red Sox relief pitchers have come into the game with players on base 150 times as well as having 177 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have accumulated 78 holds for the season (16th in MLB). The Red Sox relief pitchers have a save percentage of 55.2% and has come into the game in 149 save situations. They have recorded 37 saves on the campaign and have missed out on 30 of 67 chances to get a save. The relievers have inherited 211 runners this season and 34.6% of those players ended up scoring. The Red Sox have sent 487 relief pitchers to the hill on the season.

The Boston Red Sox have a tally of 4,031 putouts for the season, as well as 1,327 assists and 108 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .980 which puts them in 30th in baseball, and they have turned 107 double plays. The Red Sox have converted 69.3% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 12,093 innings, which has them sitting at 20th in professional baseball.

Criswell has thrown 135 innings and is sitting with 101 strikeouts in his MLB career. His earned run average is 4.53 (68 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.407. He has surrendered 148 base hits (9.9 hits per nine innings) with 42 free passes. Criswell (7-6 career win-loss mark) holds a FIP of 4.47 while facing 588 opposing hitters in the major leagues.

The Tampa Bay Rays have accumulated a team OBP of .304 and a batting average of .230 so far this season. They have been rung up on 1,379 occasions (6th in the league) and have 1,154 base hits. Tampa Bay has tallied 136 long balls so far this year as well as 531 RBIs. The Rays have a SLG% of .368 and they score 3.80 runs per game (28th in MLB). They have 235 two-baggers, while walking 469 times as well as putting up 570 runs.

The Tampa Bay pitching staff have allowed 634 runs for the season and come in with a team ERA of 3.88 (576 earned runs conceded). They have conceded 190 homers and they yield 4.27 runs per 9 innings (12th in the league). The Rays have a team WHIP of 1.222 with a FIP of 4.19 as a unit on the year. Their K/BB ratio sits at 8.60 (1,280 strikeouts vs 424 walks). They rank 14th in the league as a staff in total hits relinquished with 1,209.

Tampa Bay has called on bullpen pitchers to enter the contest in 66 save chances and they have come away with 46 saves. They rank 3rd in MLB holding a save rate of 69.7%, and they have dispatched 505 relief pitchers to the mound on the season. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 188 times in high leverage situations and also on 117 occasions with base runners. Tampa Bay relief pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 24.0% out of 171 inherited base runners. With 165 save situations, the Rays have compiled 97 holds and 20 blown saves.

The Tampa Bay Rays have gotten 103 double plays and have a fielding rate of .984 (22nd in the majors). The Rays have racked up 1,186 assists, 85 errors and have amassed 4,010 putouts for the season. Out of their 12,030 innings played, the Rays are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 70.6% (8th in pro baseball).

Thus far in his career, Pepiot has conceded 146 base hits while he has tallied 199 K's in 193 innings pitched. Pepiot (13-7 win-loss record in his career) is the owner of a 3.36 ERA while giving up 6.8 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed 72 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.139 and having a FIP of 3.3. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.69 and he has gone up against 798 batters during his MLB career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Boston

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