The Red Sox bats are red hot at the moment. They’re averaging over 6.4 runs per game over their last seven games, where they’ve gone 5-2. They put up six runs once again to win the rubber match of their series against the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.
Ace Chris Sale was the beneficiary of one of the Red Sox lineup’s explosions during his last start as they put up nine runs in a 9-0 win over the Rays.
Not that Sale has needed much help against Tampa Bay. Sale has already faced the Rays five times, and he’s 4-1 with a sparkling 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeouts in just 35 total innings. He’s shut out the Rays in 14 innings of work over his last two starts against them, which have both resulted in Red Sox wins.
The fading Rays have now lost five of their last seven games, all but eliminating them from realistic contention in the wild card race. The Rays bats have gone cold as they’ve only managed to put up 12 runs over their last six games.
That lack of run support is not ideal for Tampa Bay starter Matt Andriese. The 28-year-old has had a truly rough September. He’s given up 11 earned runs in just 6.2 innings of work through two starts this month, including a disastrous outing the last time he faced the Red Sox wherein he gave up eight runs (six earned) in 1.2 innings.
Tampa Bay is just 3-3 in its six home games against the Red Sox this season.
Writer’s Prediction
Sale and the Red Sox (-185) roll to drop the Rays on the road.
