The suddenly resurgent Boston Red Sox will play against the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday night. It is the final game of a three-game series. The division rivals begin play at 7:05 PM ET at Tropicana Field.
The baseball odds list the Rays as favorites at -165 and the Red Sox at +145. The total is 8.5 runs.
After losing the first two games of the series, the Tampa Bay Rays (32-14, 13-9 home) are on the brink of being swept for the first time this season. Despite their brief slide, they are owners of the best record in the major leagues and lead Boston by 6.5 games in the AL East.
The Boston Red Sox (26-21, 12-10 away) were particularly impressive against Tampa on Tuesday night. Starting pitcher Jon Lester gave up one hit as the Rays were shut out for just the second time all season. A win Wednesday night would give the Red Sox their longest win streak of the season at five.
In order to hand Tampa their first sweep of the season, Boston will have to go through Rays’ starting pitcher Matt Garza (5-2, 3.27 ERA), who has traditionally done very well against the Red Sox. He has never lost to them at home. Garza last faced Boston on April 18, when he gave up four hits in eight scoreless innings of a 7-1 win.
Boston will start John Lackey (4-3, 5.07 ERA). He struggled in his last start, walking five and giving up four runs in five innings Friday night in a 5-1 loss at Philadelphia. He started his career by going 9-1 with a 2.36 ERA in his first 11 starts against Tampa, but is 0-2 with a 17.28 ERA in his last two starts against them.
