Free MLB Picks Today: Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox 9/7/22

The Boston Red Sox (-150) are on the road to face the Tampa Bay Rays (+130) at Tropicana Field on Wednesday with the home team eyeing a sweep of the three-game series. The early total was set at 7 runs with the over a -115 favorite. The Rays (76-58) lead the series 2-0 after winning 8-4 on Tuesday, their 11th head-to-head victory in 15 games this season. Reliever Garrett Cleavinger was credited with the win after throwing two scoreless innings. Randy Arozarena went 3 for 4 with a home run and two doubles in the win. He scored three runs and drove in three. Yu Chang added a solo home run. Tommy Pham was 1 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs for the Red Sox (67-70), stretching his on-base streak to 13 games.

ON THE MOUND

Nick Pivetta (9-10, 4.37 ERA) is set to get the start for Boston. The RHP allowed one run over three innings in his last start, a 9-1 home win over the Rangers on Friday. He gave up four hits while striking out two and walking two in the no-decision. Over two previous starts against the Rays this season, Pivetta has allowed 12 earned runs over 10.2 innings (0-2, 10.13). He has struck out eight and walked five. For Tampa Bay, southpaw Jeffrey Springs (7-4, 2.62 ERA) will toe the rubber. He has made three appearances against the Red Sox this season, including two starts, giving up eight runs over 12 innings (0-1, 6.00) with 15 strikeouts and five walks. In his last start on Friday, Springs got the win at home against the Yankees. He threw 5.2 scoreless innings and gave up four hits, striking out seven and walking three in the 9-0 triumph.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Boston has averaged 5.2 runs a game, a small gain compared to their season average of 4.6. Against lefties like Springs this season, the Sox have a .761 OPS. Xander Bogaerts is the team’s most potent producer against left-handers with a 1.017 OPS in 102 at-bats. Tampa Bay is averaging 4.8 runs per game in the last five, up slightly from 4.3 for the season. The Rays have a .692 OPS against right-handers in 2022. With a .822 OPS over 315 at-bats, David Peralta has been their best hitter against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Boston is 32-36 in away games in 2022, scoring 4.4 runs per game while allowing 4.6 runs. Tampa Bay has gone 46-24 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 4.3 runs per game while surrendering 3.4. Tampa Bay is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings at Tropicana Field with an average scoreline of 5.1-4.1.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Red Sox are fifth in the AL East, 15 games behind the division-leading Yankees. The Rays are second in the AL East, four games behind the Yankees. They currently occupy one of the Wild Card spots, sitting first.