Shane Baz has looked utterly dominant to start the season and should effectively navigate this dangerous Red Sox lineup. Tanner Houck struggled at first, but he’s starting to find his groove and can handle the Rays’ bats early on.
Phil Naessens • Betting Analyst
Apr 14, 2025 • 09:07 ET • 4 min read
Get ready for an exciting night of baseball when the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays square off in Game 1 of a three-game series.
Tonight’s starting pitching matchup should be electric, and my Red Sox vs. Rays predictions expect a low-scoring opening five stanzas from these American League East rivals.
Read on for my MLB picks for Monday, April 14.
Red Sox vs Rays prediction
My Red Sox vs Rays best bet: First five innings Under 5 runs (-105 at Caesars)
Tonight’s opening game of a three-game series between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays offers us a solid pitching matchup neither offense should be able to exploit.
Boston righty Tanner Houck started slowly but seems to be settling in. His command has been off, but he tossed a five-hitter through 6 2/3 frames in his last start against Toronto.
Houck keeps the ball on the ground, and that’s more than optimal against a Rays team that doesn’t score many runs and hacks away at everything close to the dish.
Rays righty Shane Baz has been electric thus far. He’s whiffed 16 of 51 batters with only two earned runs allowed across 13 frames on the bump.
Baz meets a Red Sox offense he’s unfamiliar with, but their 125 strikeouts against righties leads the majors, and he should keep the big-swinging Boston bats at bay.
While Baz will see new faces at the plate, Houck has dominated the current Rays lineup; the Boston righty has allowed a dozen hits, two extra-base hits, and 19 punchouts across 59 at-bats.
Expect the bats to be silent early, and this contest ends Under the first five innings total.
Caesars QuickPick: Our Red Sox vs Rays same-game parlay (SGP)
F5 Under 5Shane Baz Over 6.5 strikeouts
Tanner Houck Over 4.5 strikeouts
Baz has electric stuff with a tremendous matchup. Boston boasts some serious lumber against righties, but whiffing in 24% of their at-bats is less than optimal against Baz and his four-seamer/curveball combo.
Houck doesn’t get many strikeouts, but he punched out six Orioles at Camden Yards this season. Not to mention a nearly 33% strikeout rate across a decent-sized sample of 59 batters.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Red Sox vs Rays odds
Red Sox vs Rays live odds
Red Sox vs Rays opening odds
- Moneyline: Boston +105 | Tampa Bay -125
- Run line: Boston -1.5 (+158) | Tampa Bay +1.5 (-189)
- Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)
Odds courtesy of Caesars.
Red Sox vs Rays trend
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How to watch Red Sox vs Rays and game info
Location George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL Date Monday, 4-14-2025 First pitch 7:05 p.m. ET TV NESN, FDSNSUN Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck
(0-1, 4.41 ERA) Rays starting pitcher Shane Baz
(1-0, 1.38 ERA)
Red Sox vs Rays latest injuries
Red Sox vs Rays weather
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