Rays vs. Red Sox Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 4/24/2022

Wander Franco, batting .367 this season, leads the Tampa Bay Rays (8-7) into a matchup with one of the league’s other top hitters, Xander Bogaerts (.357 AVG) and the Boston Red Sox (7-8). Franco and the Rays are -169 favorites on the moneyline for the matchup at Tropicana Field, beginning at 1:10 PM ET. Tampa Bay’s Shane McClanahan gets the start, and he’ll go against Boston’s Rich Hill.

Rays vs. Red Sox Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Rays vs. Red Sox

Our computer pick: Boston Red Sox (+145) and Over (7.5)

Rays vs. Red Sox Game Info

• Tampa Bay Rays probable starting pitcher: Shane McClanahan
• Boston Red Sox probable starting pitcher: Rich Hill
• Game Day: Sunday, April 24, 2022
• Game Time: 1:10 PM ET
• Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
• Stadium: Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox Pitching Matchup

Rays Starter Shane McClanahan

• McClanahan gets the start for the Rays, his fourth of the season. He is 0-1 with a 2.40 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched.
• In his most recent time out on Monday against the Chicago Cubs, the left-hander threw six innings, allowing one earned run while surrendering four hits.
• The 24-year-old has put up an ERA of 2.40, with 14.4 strikeouts per nine innings, in three games this season. Opposing hitters have a .189 batting average against him.
• He will face a Red Sox offense that ranks 12th in MLB with 114 total hits (on a .228 batting average). The team also slugs a collective .357 (15th in MLB) with 11 total home runs (22nd in MLB).
• Among qualifying pitchers in MLB play this season, the 24-year-old’s 2.40 ERA ranks 24th, 1.000 WHIP ranks 20th, and 14.4 K/9 ranks third.

Red Sox Starter Rich Hill

• Hill will make his first start of the season for the Red Sox.
• This will be the first start of the season for the 42-year-old left-hander, who has not made an appearance on the mound in over a season.
• The Rays have scored 66 runs this season, which ranks ninth in MLB. They are batting .241 for the campaign with 12 home runs, 18th in the league.

Rays Betting Picks & Insights

• The Rays have entered the game as favorites 12 times this season and won seven, or 58.3%, of those games.
• Tampa Bay has entered seven games this season favored by -169 or more and is 4-3 in those contests.
• The implied probability of a win from the Rays, based on the moneyline, is 62.8%.
• Tampa Bay’s games have gone over the total in six of their 15 chances.
• The Rays are 6-9-0 against the spread this season.

Red Sox Betting Picks & Insights

• The Red Sox have been chosen as underdogs in seven games this year and have walked away with the win two times (28.6%) in those games.
• Boston has played as an underdog of +145 or more just one time this year and came away with a loss in that game.
• The Red Sox have an implied victory probability of 40.8% according to the moneyline set by oddsmakers for this matchup.
• Contests with Boston have gone over the total set by oddsmakers in four of 15 chances this season.
• The Red Sox have posted a record of 9-6-0 against the spread this season.

Rays Leaders & Batting Stats

• Franco is the bat to watch in the Rays lineup, leading the team in batting average (.367), home runs (3), and RBI (10).
• Franco’s home runs put him 16th in MLB, and he is 20th in RBI.
• Franco carries a five-game hitting streak into this matchup. In his last five games he is hitting .348 with three doubles, three home runs and six RBI.
• Brandon Lowe has hit three home runs to pace his team.
• Lowe ranks 16th in homers and 40th in RBI on the year.
• Ji-Man Choi has three doubles, two home runs and 11 walks while batting .314.
• Manuel Margot is hitting .316 with a double and four walks.

Red Sox Leaders & Batting Stats

• Rafael Devers has launched a team-high three home runs.
• Devers ranks 16th in homers and 40th in RBI among all hitters in the majors.
• Alex Verdugo has been a reliable source of runs this year, leading the lineup with three home runs and 10 RBI.
• Verdugo is currently 16th in homers and 20th in RBI in the big leagues.
• Bogaerts leads the Red Sox with a team-best batting average of .357.
• Kike Hernandez has six doubles, a home run and seven walks while hitting .172.

Betting Tips for Rays vs. Red Sox

Our best bet is the Red Sox on the moneyline at +145 after analyzing all of the key statistics and trends for this matchup. Our computer predicts the total score will over the total of 7.5 runs.