Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox Prediction, 5/16/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024

Location: Fenway Park in Boston, MA

TV: Bally Sports Sun

Fenway Park is the site where the Boston Red Sox (22-20) will meet the Tampa Bay Rays (21-22) on Thursday. The pitchers taking the mound will be Zack Littell and Cooper Criswell.

As a team, the Tampa Bay Rays are knocking in 4.1 runs per game, which has them at 19th in MLB. They have accounted for 176 runs while having a team OBP of .313. The Rays have accumulated 62 two-baggers as a team and have hit 37 baseballs out of the stadium. They have recorded 161 RBI's as well as 350 hits on the campaign, and their average at the plate is sitting at .243. Tampa Bay has a slugging % of .370 and have been called out on strikes 386 times, while taking a walk on 132 occasions.

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The Rays are sitting with a team ERA of 4.34 this year (23rd in the league), and their staff has rung up 372 batters. Rays pitchers have given up 56 home runs and 207 total runs (23rd in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 131 opposing hitters and their FIP is 4.25 as a squad for the season. Tampa Bay has allowed 365 hits (8.5 per 9 innings) as well as 187 earned runs. They have a K/BB ratio of 2.84 and the pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.28.

The Rays have sent 137 relief pitchers to the mound on the season. The relief pitchers have inherited 48 base runners so far this year and 22.9% of those runners crossed the plate. They have compiled 12 saves on the year and have blown 9 out of their 21 chances to save the game. The Rays relievers have recorded a save percentage of 57.1% and stepped onto the hill in 51 save situations. The relievers have 29 holds on the year (7th in MLB). Rays bullpen pitchers have entered the contest with opponents on base 34 times and also have had 60 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Tampa Bay Rays have earned a total of 1,163 putouts thus far, in addition to 327 assists and 24 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .984 which puts them in 13th in MLB, and they have turned 29 double plays. The Rays have converted 69.8% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 3,489 innings on the field, which has them sitting 17th in the majors.

Littell (18-13 career mark) has a FIP of 4.16 while facing 1,286 batters in the major leagues. He has surrendered 309 hits (9.1 hits per 9 innings) with 79 free passes. His earned run average is 3.93 (133 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.275. Littell has taken the mound for 304 frames and has accumulated 270 punch outs so far in his career.

The Boston Red Sox have earned a team OBP of .314 in addition to a team batting average of .242 on the campaign. They have been called out on strikes on 418 instances (2nd in the league) and have totaled 346 hits. Boston has compiled 41 home runs for the season and 173 RBIs. The Red Sox have a team slugging % of .395 and they are scoring 4.29 runs per outing (16th in the league). They have 76 doubles, while taking a walk 135 times and putting up 180 runs.

The Red Sox have a WHIP of 1.103 and have a FIP of 3.46 as a team for the year. They currently have a strikeout to walk ratio of 8.40 (354 strikeouts vs 105 walks). They are currently ranked 7th in MLB as a staff in total hits given up with 312. They have allowed 35 home runs and they relinquish 3.52 runs per 9 innings (3rd in baseball). The Boston pitching staff have relinquished 148 runs on the campaign while holding a team ERA of 2.78 (117 earned runs surrendered).

Boston bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 34.3% out of their 35 inherited runners. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 51 times in high leverage situations and on 30 occasions with runners on. With 40 save situations, the Red Sox have 21 holds in addition to 8 blown saves. They are ranked 23rd in the league with a save rate of 55.6%, and they have sent 134 bullpen pitchers to the hill over the course of the season. Boston has called on relievers to enter the contest in 18 save opportunities and they have earned 10 saves.

The Boston Red Sox have turned 29 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .980 (28th in the majors). The Red Sox have racked up 374 assists, 31 errors and have accounted for 1,135 putouts for the season. Out of their 3,405 innings on the field, the Red Sox have earned a defensive efficiency of 71.2% (7th in pro baseball).

Criswell (3-3 career mark) has earned a 4.41 ERA and has conceded 9.8 hits per nine innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.29 and he has faced 275 hitters in his career. He has allowed 31 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.358 and a FIP of 4.5. Thus far in his career, Criswell has given up 69 base hits while he has earned 56 K's in 63 innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Tampa Bay

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