Red Sox vs. Rays Free MLB Picks for April 23 (Archive)
After the Red Sox squeaked by against the Rays in yesterday’s game, what can we expect in tonight’s matchup between the two AL East teams?
Let’s take a look at the MLB odds for today’s game.
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Saturday, April 23, 2022 – 06:10 PM EDT at Tropicana Field
Betting Preview
The Boston Red Sox escaped damage in the ninth inning to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays in the first game of the three-game series. Now both teams are 7-7 on the season and looking to get back to .500. Garrett Whitlock will take the hill for the Red Sox while J.P. Feyereisen is expected to start the game for the Rays.
Play Now: $1,000 BMR 12-Week All Sports Challenge
Feyereisen will basically open the game as the starter in what should be a bullpen game for the Rays. Feyereisen has a 5.13 xFIP dating back to last season with 12.6% walks. He spent a little time with the Brewers but was traded mid-season to the Rays. He won’t get a whole lot of grounders but is able to limit line drives.
Betting Analysis
However, he’s been smacked around by lefties before and a guy like Rafael Devers or even Alex Verdugo have potential. Devers has a .326 ISO and wOBA of .384 against righties dating back to last season. Verdugo also has a .187 ISO and wOBA of .381 against righties.
Xander Bogaerts is just as good against righties. However, Feyereisen is extremely dominant against righties dating back to last season. On the other hand, Whitlock has a 3.33 xFIP dating back to last season with a 26.9% strikeout rate and 5.3% walk rate. The ground balls are high enough but line drives are slightly high as well.
Visit Our: MLB Betting Forum
Still, Whitlock is able to limit power and hold runners off the basepaths. He’s had more trouble with lefties but still has had above-average success.
It should be noted that he will take on at least seven lefties in the lineup. That could ultimately favor the Rays. The Rays have a .198 ISO and wOBA of .330 dating back to last year against righties. However, the Rays have also struck out 28.5% of the time in the same time frame while only hitting above 21% line drives.
Expert Prediction
In bullpen games, you usually expect runs. However, the Rays are one of the best bullpens in baseball and all they worry about is the different matchups to give themselves the best advantage possible in each game. After losing the first game by a run, the Rays should be able to get back into the win column tonight.
More Picks: Check Out Our MLB Pick of the Day Video Section
In a low-scoring game, the Rays have more matchup advantages with seven lefties in the lineup against the Red Sox’s righties. Grab the Tampa Bay Rays at -118 on the moneyline in this close AL East battle. The winner of this game goes back above .500.
In any other bullpen, I’d probably be backing the other team for my MLB picks but the Rays are always so prepared for these games and have the right players to do it.
MLB Pick: Rays ML (-118) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.