What more could MLB bettors ask for than the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball telecast to pit two teams up against one another that are in the thick of a hotly contested division pennant race? That’s exactly what will go down at online sportsbooks in the final game of this week’s MLB betting action when the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays collide in the finale of their scheduled three-game set. The BoSox last paid the Trop a visit at the end of June where they would go on to lose two of three to move to 4-2 versus the Rays for the season. After dropping their prior home series to the New York Yankees, you can’t help but think Kevin Cash’s team comes out determined to make a statement throughout this series. They’ll send their young stud left-hander in Shane McClanahan to the bump to take on Nick Pivetta in hopes of propelling the team into first place.
First pitch for the finale of the three-game set between the AL East rival Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays is scheduled for Sunday, August 1, 2021, at 7 p.m. ET from Tropicana Field. This week’s Sunday Night Baseball telecast will air live on ESPN. Bet on MLB odds and player props at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
MLB Betting Lines at BookMaker.eu
Odds Analysis
Even out of the All-Star break, the Red Sox continue to defy the odds and remain one of the best bets in the game. Sitting 22 games over the breakeven point following a doubleheader split with the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Boston ranks out as the third most lucrative wager in the sport having lined their supporter’s pockets with over $1600 worth of profit. Most impressive is that a bulk of the money has been attained on the road where the team is 10 games over .500 and up $1125 overall. Tampa Bay clocks in right behind their division rival on the money earned list having scored over $1100 in profit regardless of dropping three straight heading into Thursday’s series finale with the Yankees. The two defeats to New York moved them to 29-19 as a host $230. The Rays have come out on top six of the last 10 times it hosted this rivalry with the over cashing in six times as well.
Probable Pitchers
Nick Pivetta: Beantown has done wonders for the right-hander who has done nothing but surprise over the course of his first 20 starts as a member of the Red Sox. Pivetta enters start No. 21 the owner of an 8-4 record and 4.51 ERA with a 10.0 K/9. That said, only 30 percent of his starts have been of quality and he’s only logged one over his last five starts. During that stretch, he’s been ripped to the tune of 32 hits and 18 ER while issuing 10 walks and allowing 6 HR. Surprisingly, the under has managed to cash in 11 of his starts and it would be 2-0 in his pair of outings against Tampa Bay had his offense not erupted for 11 runs in one of them. Pivetta has dominated Tampa’s offense through two starts in allowing two hits and no ER with a 12:6 K/BB ratio over 11.2 combined innings.
Shane McClanahan: The youngster has been a revelation within the Rays starting rotation since getting the call at the end of April. Since then, the left-hander has amassed a 4-4 record with a 3.93 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and .247 batting average against. The youngster has the stuff to be a star in this league for years to come. His FIP is nearly half a run lower than his ERA and he’s allowing only 8.6 hits while racking up 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings. But it’s not all good news with only three of his 15 made starts being of quality. That being said, he’s thrown 80+ pitches and pitched through the sixth inning in three of his last five starts. He gets the advantage of this being Boston’s first time seeing his stuff, and the Red Sox have been around league average against south paws over the last two weeks.
Red Sox vs. Rays Prediction
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and predict the Rays offense finally figures out a way to score a run against Nick Pivetta with this being the third time it will get to stare back at him this season. In fact, I’m going to recommend hitting the over of Tampa Bay’s team total. You never know what you’re going to get whenever Pivetta toes the bump. Once the fuse is lit, it’s either going to be a dud or a beautiful masterpiece that lights up the sky. I’ll be banking on the former taking shape in this one and fully expect newcomer Nelson Cruz and company to send him to the showers early. McClanahan is a stud taking shape right before our eyes and he’s got the better bullpen backing him up in this matchup. With that, hit the Rays on the moneyline and enjoy the show!
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