Hot-hitting Harold Ramirez will be looking to extend his 10-game hitting streak as the Tampa Bay Rays (69-56) face off against the Boston Red Sox (61-65) at Fenway Park on Saturday. The Red Sox took Friday’s series opener 9-8, their third head-to-head victory in 11 games this season. Starter Michael Wacha went six innings to get the win, giving up four runs on five hits and striking out six, and Garrett Whitlock earned his sixth save with a scoreless ninth. Alex Verdugo went 2 for 4 with a triple and a double in the win. He scored one run and drove in one. Kevin Plawecki went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. Yandy Diaz was 3 for 4 with a home run and a double for the Rays. He scored two runs. Jose Siri added a home run and a double. He scored two runs and had three RBIs.
ON THE MOUND
Jeffrey Springs (6-3, 2.46 ERA) is in line to start for Tampa Bay. The left-hander allowed one run over 5.2 innings in his last start, a 2-1 road win over the Angels on Monday. He was credited with the win, giving up five hits while striking out seven and walking three. Springs has made one previous start against the Red Sox this season, an 8-4 road victory on July 5. He surrendered three runs on five hits over four innings, striking out five and walking two. Left-hander Rich Hill (5-5, 4.68 ERA) gets the ball for Boston. He has made one prior start against the Rays this season, holding opposing hitters scoreless over four innings in a 5-2 road defeat on April 24. He gave up four hits and walked three while striking out one in the no-decision.In his last start on August 17, Hill got the win on the road against the Pirates. He threw five innings and gave up two runs on three hits, striking out four, in the 8-3 victory.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Tampa Bay has averaged 6.6 runs a game, up from their season average of 4.2, while slashing better across the board (.250/.330/.452). Against southpaws like Hill this season, the Rays have a .703 OPS. Diaz is the team’s strongest hitter against left-handers with a .842 OPS in 106 at-bats. Boston is averaging only 4.4 runs per game in the last five, down slightly from 4.5 for the season. The Sox have a .768 OPS against left-handers in 2022. With a 1.029 OPS over 86 at-bats, Xander Bogaerts has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Tampa Bay is 27-33 away from home in 2022, scoring 4.2 runs per game while allowing 4.2 runs. Boston has gone 30-33 at Fenway Park this season, averaging 4.5 runs per game while surrendering 5.2. The AL East rivals have split their last 10 games head-to-head at Fenway Park, though Tampa Bay has the scoring advantage with an average final margin of 6.4-5.0.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Rays are second in the AL East, eight games behind the division-leading Yankees. The Red Sox are fifth in the AL East, 17 games behind the Yankees.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Tampa Bay Rays (-130)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
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