Free MLB Picks Today: Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox 9/6/22

The Boston Red Sox (67-69) are on the road to face the Tampa Bay Rays (75-58) at Tropicana Field on Tuesday. The Rays took Monday’s series opener 4-3, their 10th head-to-head victory in 14 games this season. Calvin Faucher got the win with one scoreless inning out of the bullpen, and Pete Fairbanks earned his fifth save with a scoreless ninth. Manuel Margot went 2 for 4 with a double, two runs, and one RBI in the win. Alex Verdugo was 2 for 4 with a home run and two runs for the Red Sox. Rafael Devers added one RBI on one hit and two walks.

ON THE MOUND

Rich Hill (6-5, 4.52 ERA) is set for the start for Boston. The southpaw allowed four runs over four innings in his last start, a 9-8 road win over the Rangers on Thursday. He scattered five hits while striking out two and walking four in the no-decision. Over two previous starts against the Rays this season, Hill has yet to allow a run over 11 innings (1-0, 0.00). He has struck out 12 and walked four. Righty Drew Rasmussen (9-4, 2.77 ERA) will toe the rubber for Tampa Bay. He has made one prior start against the Red Sox this season, giving up three runs over six innings in a 5-4 home win on July 14. He gave up four hits and walked one, while striking out five in the no-decision. In his last start on Wednesday, Rasmussen took a no-decision on the road against the Marlins. He threw six innings and gave up one run on four hits, striking out four, in the 2-1 victory.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Boston has averaged 6.2 runs a game, up from their season average of 4.6, while performing better across the board (.302/.397/.459). Against righties like Rasmussen this season, the Sox have a .721 OPS. Devers is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a .922 OPS in 342 at-bats. Tampa Bay is averaging only 3.6 runs per game in the last five, down slightly from 4.3 for the season. The Rays have a .700 OPS against southpaws in 2022. With a .891 OPS over 99 at-bats, Harold Ramirez has been their best hitter against left-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Boston is 32-35 on the road in 2022, scoring 4.4 runs per game while allowing 4.6 runs. Tampa Bay has gone 45-24 at home this season, averaging 4.2 runs per game while surrendering 3.4. Tampa Bay is 8-2 in the last 10 games between the AL East rivals at Tropicana Field with an average scoreline of 4.8-3.7.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Red Sox are fifth in the AL East, 13 games behind the division-leading Yankees. The Rays are second in the AL East, five games behind the Yankees. They currently occupy one of the Wild Card spots, sitting second.