Rays vs. Red Sox Betting Preview April 20

The Rays take on the Red Sox in Boston.  Which Team/Total Outcome Stands Out Here:  Boston Red Sox. Why? Line dropping on Tampa and Rick Porcello needs win badly for Boston.

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The Rays were at a tempting -137 at home with the line coming off -150.  60% of bets were on Tampa Bay

Tampa is hot at 14-6; Boston just 7-13

The Red Sox suspect starting pitching

The total on this game has moved between 8 and 8.5.  Five of the last seven meetings have resulted in total runs OVER 8.5.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (0-3, 11.12 ERA) vs. Rays RH Charlie Morton (2-0, 2.18)

Porcello issued five walks in four innings and was charged with three runs and six hits in a loss to Baltimore last Saturday, which lowered his ERA from 13.50 to 11.12. The former AL Cy Young Award winner is struggling with his command and issued a total of 12 walks to go with 22 hits in 11 1/3 innings over his first three outings. Porcello made five starts against Tampa Bay last season and went 2-2 with a 4.34 ERA, with both losses coming at Tropicana Field.

Morton is proving to be a solid addition to the Rays staff and surrendered two or fewer runs in each of his first four outings. The 35-year-old completed six innings in only one of those turns and was limited to 4 2/3 innings at Toronto on Sunday while allowing one run and four hits. Morton saw the Red Sox in the playoffs last season as a member of the Houston Astros and was knocked around for three runs on three hits and a pair of walks in 2 1/3 innings.

2019 MLB Record: 5-3-1 (60%)

2018-19 College Basketball Record: 12-9 (57.1%)

2018-19 NBA Record: 7-4 (63.4%)

2018 MLB Record: 45-35 (56.2%)

2018 NBA Record: 12-4-1 (75%)

- Don Shapiro, Gambling911.com