Free MLB Picks Today: Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox 8/28/22

The Tampa Bay Rays (69-57) are on the road to face the Boston Red Sox (62-65) at Fenway Park on Sunday with the home team looking for a sweep of the three-game series. The Red Sox lead the series 2-0 after winning 5-1 on Saturday, their fourth head-to-head victory in 12 games this season. Rich Hill threw seven scoreless innings- striking out 11 – to get the win, and John Schreiber pitched 1.1 scoreless innings to pick up his fifth save. Kike Hernandez went 1 for 2 with a solo home run in the win. Randy Arozarena was 2 for 4 with one RBI for the Rays.

ON THE MOUND

Corey Kluber (8-7, 4.20 ERA) is in line to start for Tampa Bay. The righty allowed one run over six innings in his last start, an 11-1 road win over the Angels on Tuesday. He earned the win, yielding five hits while striking out three. Over three previous starts against the Red Sox this season, Kluber has allowed six earned runs over 17 innings (2-1, 3.18). He has struck out 15 and walked two. For Boston, RHP Nick Pivetta (9-9, 4.24 ERA) takes the mound. He has made one prior start against the Rays this season, giving up seven runs over 5.2 innings in an 8-4 home defeat on July 5. He gave up eight hits and walked two, while striking out four in the loss. In his last start on August 21, Pivetta took a no-decision on the road against the Orioles. He threw 5.2 innings and gave up two runs on six hits, striking out nine and walking one in the 5-3 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Tampa Bay has averaged 6.4 runs a game, up from their season average of 4.2, partially due to increased slugging (.413 vs .381). Against right-handed pitchers like Pivetta this season, the Rays have a .684 OPS. David Peralta is the team’s best hitter against right-handers with a .792 OPS in 300 at-bats. Boston is averaging 4.8 runs per game in the last five, up slightly from 4.5 for the season. The Sox have a .711 OPS against right-handers in 2022. With a .958 OPS over 315 at-bats, Rafael Devers has been their best hitter against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Tampa Bay is on a three-game losing streak on the road, bringing their record to 27-34 in 2022. The Rays have scored 4.2 runs per game away from home while allowing 4.2 runs. Boston has gone 31-33 at home this season, averaging 4.5 runs per game while surrendering 5.1. Boston is 6-4 in the last 10 games between the AL East rivals at Fenway Park despite an average scoreline favoring Tampa Bay (5.7-5.4).

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.