Free MLB Picks Today: Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays 10/5/22

Free MLB Picks Today: Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays 10/5/22
Wed 5th October 2022

The Red Sox lead the series 2-0 after winning 6-0 on Tuesday, their sixth head-to-head victory in 18 games this season. Starter Nathan Eovaldi went the distance for a complete game shutout. He scattered only two hits, striking out four and walking two en route to the win. Christian Arroyo went 2 for 2 with one run and one RBI in the win. Xander Bogaerts added a home run and four RBIs. Taylor Walls was 1 for 2 with a double for the Rays.

ON THE MOUND

Josh Fleming (2-4, 6.23 ERA) is set to start for Tampa Bay. The left-hander allowed one run in four innings of relief in his last appearance, a 5-1 road defeat against the Blue Jays on September 14. He scattered five hits while striking out one and walking one. Over two previous appearances against the Red Sox this season, Fleming has allowed seven earned runs over eight innings (0-1, 7.88). He has struck out seven and walked two. For Boston, righty Nick Pivetta (10-12, 4.51 ERA) gets the ball. He has made three appearances against the Rays this season, all as the starter, giving up 13 runs over 15.2 innings (0-3, 7.47) with 11 strikeouts and eight walks. In his last start on Friday, Pivetta took the loss on the road against the Blue Jays. He threw five innings and gave up four runs on six hits, striking out two and walking three in the 9-0 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Tampa Bay has averaged only 2.4 runs a game, down from their season average of 4.1, while performing worse across the board (.186/.267/.310). Against righties like Pivetta this season, the Rays have a .676 OPS. Yandy Diaz is the team’s best performer against right-handers with a .800 OPS in 347 at-bats. Boston is averaging only 2.6 runs per game in the last five, down from 4.5 for the season, with their slash line dropping across the board (.201/.247/.282). The Sox have a .755 OPS against southpaws in 2022. With a 1.031 OPS over 120 at-bats, Bogaerts has been their best hitter against left-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Tampa Bay is on a four-game losing streak in road games, bringing their record to 35-45 in 2022. The Rays have scored 4.1 runs per game away from home, while allowing 4.1 runs. Boston has won five in a row at home. The Sox are 42-38 at home this season, averaging 4.8 runs per game while surrendering 5.1. In the last 10 games at Fenway Park between the AL East rivals, Boston is 7-3 with an average scoreline of 4.9-4.8.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Rays are third in the AL East, 13 games behind the division-leading Yankees. They currently occupy one of the Wild Card spots, sitting third with a magic number of zero. The Red Sox are fifth in the AL East, 22 games behind the Yankees.

SportsTips’ MLB Pick:

TB Rays

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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