The Boston Red Sox (27-37) and Tampa Bay Rays (38-25) play Game 2 of a 3-game AL East series Tuesday at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay, Florida. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze MLB odds around the Red Sox vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Rays lead 3-1
The Red Sox couldn’t get much going during Monday’s 3-1 loss, recording just 4 hits and drawing 1 walk, including SS Marcelo Mayer‘s solo home run. Boston has lost 3 of its last 4 games and is in last place in the AL East, 11 1/2 games behind the Rays.
Tampa won Monday as -116 favorites with the Under (8) cashing. DH Yandy Diaz batted in 2 runs with a solo homer and a sacrifice fly. 1B Jonathan Aranda had the other RBI on a 2-out single in the fifth inning.
Red Sox at Rays projected starters
LHP Payton Tolle vs. RHP Nick Martinez
Tolle (3-2, 2.28 ERA) makes his ninth start. He has a 0.97 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9 and 9.7 K/9 in 47 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 6 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 5 K in a 8-1 home win vs. Baltimore Orioles Wednesday
- Career vs. Rays: 0-1, 3.00 ERA (6 IP, 4 ER), 1.50 WHIP, 7.5 K/9 in 2 starts
- 2026 on road: 2-1, 2.29 ERA, (19 2/3 IP, 5 ER), 8 H, 6 BB, 15 K in 3 starts
Martinez (5-2, 2.29 ERA) makes his 13th start. He has a 1.18 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9 and 5.3 K/9 in 70 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 4 IP, 6 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 1 K in a 7-2 home loss vs. Detroit Tigers Wednesday
- Career vs. Red Sox: 2-3, 5.23 ERA (41 1/3 IP, 24 ER), 1.79 WHIP, 5.4 K/9 in 6 starts
- 2026 at home: 3-1, 2.86 ERA, (34 2/3 IP, 11 ER), 37 H, 7 BB, 24 K in 6 starts
Red Sox at Rays odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:38 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Red Sox -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Rays -110 (bet $110 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Red Sox -1.5 (+155) | Rays +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -105 | U: -125)
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Red Sox at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Red Sox 4, Rays 2
PASS.
The pitching matchup between Tolle an Martinez is incredibly even. They faced each other May 10, and while Martinez got the win, both surrendered just 1 run. Neither offense is particularly daunting.
BET RED SOX (+155).
Tolle hasn’t given up more than 3 runs in any start this season. Boston’s bullpen is much better than Tampa’s, allowing 43 less runs and 35 less hits on the year.
BET UNDER 7.5 (-125).
These teams have hit the Under in each of their last 3 games against each other. The Red Sox are 4-5-1 in favor of the Under in their last 10 games, and the Rays are 4-6. The stellar pitching matchup should keep both offenses limited.
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