MLB Odds: Wild-Card Race Between the Rays and the Red Sox
Thursday, September 15, 2011
by Frank Martin
A little detour en route to Boston could have seriously derailed the postseason hopes of the Tampa Bay Rays. Coming off back-to-back losses in Baltimore, the Rays open a critical four-game series against the Red Sox on Thursday night at Fenway Park.
Tampa Bay had cut Boston’s lead to three games in the AL wild-card race following a three-game sweep of the Red Sox last weekend and a series-opening win against the Orioles. The two straight losses to Baltimore dropped the Rays four games back and left them needing to win at least three against Boston. If the Red Sox manage a split of the series, they’ll lead by four games with only 10 to play.
- Tampa Bay Rays (82-66) vs. Boston Red Sox (86-62)
When: 7:10 PM ET, Thursday, September 15, 2011
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Sunshine, NESN
The Rays have opened as 113-moneyline favorites on Bet Online Sportsbook’s Live MLB Baseball Odds.
Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (12-10, 2.96 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Kyle Weiland (0-1, 6.75 ERA).
Hellickson has allowed only 22 earned runs in his last 11 starts. He gave up three runs on five hits in six innings against Boston last Saturday, but did not factor in the decision. The rookie could be having quite a season with a little run support. The Rays have been shut out five times in his last 15 starts. He got plenty of offensive backing in a 16-5 win at Fenway Park on April 11.
Such is the state of Boston's beleaguered pitching staff that it is sending Weiland to the mound for his fourth career start. He hasn't exactly distinguished himself in the first three, going 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA. He lasted only four innings at Tampa Bay on Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits. Weiland has given up 12 runs in 14 innings as a starter while walking eight and striking out five.
Boston has skidded to six losses in seven games and given up 51 runs in that span. A complete meltdown by setup man Daniel Bard has contributed mightily to the skid. Bard absorbed three losses in that stretch, including Thursday’s 5-4 defeat to Toronto. The injuries that have decimated the pitching staff are creeping into the starting lineup.
DH David Ortiz has missed the last two games with back spasms and Adrian Gonzalez, who leads the majors with a .340 batting average, had to exit Thursday’s game with tightness in his calf. Jacoby Ellsbury is riding an 18-game hitting streak.
Tampa Bay has its top pitchers lined up to face Boston. Good thing, because the offense disappeared during the last two games in Baltimore. The Rays managed two runs in each game and struck out 19 times against two starters who had entered the series with a combined record of 11-25. Matt Joyce had two hits and drove in both runs in Thursday’s 6-2 loss. B.J. Upton had his six-game hitting streak snapped, although he drew a pair of walks. Upton has been on base 19 times in the last seven games. He was 7-for-14 in Tampa Bay’s sweep of Boston last weekend.
The schedule certainly favors Boston against Tampa Bay down the stretch. The Red Sox will play the third of a 10-game homestand Thursday. For the Rays, it is the fourth of an 11-game road trip.
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adrian gonzalez - b.j. upton - boston red sox - daniel bard - david ortiz - fenway park - jacoby ellsbury - jeremy hellickson - kyle weiland - matt joyce
