MLB Odds: Red Sox Face David Price and the Tampa Bay Rays

Friday, July 15, 2011

by Frank Martin

Despite a starting rotation in disarray, the Boston Red Sox begin the second half of the season on a six-game winning streak and lead the American League East by one game over the New York Yankees. Boston looks to add to its good fortune on Friday night when it sends Andrew Miller to the mound to face David Price and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Prior to the All-Star break, the Rays lost two straight contests in a crucial 11-game stretch against Boston and New York, the two teams they trail in the division. The Rays will host the Red Sox for three games and then entertain the Yankees in a four-game series with a chance to get back in the AL East race.

- Boston Red Sox (55-35) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (49-41)
When: 7:10 PM ET, Friday, July 15, 2011
Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
TV: 7:10 p.m. NESN, SUN

The Rays have opened as 147-moneyline favorites on Bet Online Sportsbook’s Live MLB Baseball Odds.

Red Sox LH Andrew Miller (3-0, 3.57 ERA) vs. Rays LH David Price (8-7, 3.70 ERA)

Miller gets the start as Boston is still being cautious with Josh Beckett, who elected not to pitch in the All-Star Game because his knee was sore. Miller has been everything the Red Sox could have hoped for since they called him up from Triple-A Pawtucket. Boston has won all four of his starts. Miller did not fan a batter in his last outing and walked four and the Red Sox hope that is not an ominous sign for a pitcher with a history of control problems.

Maybe Price got caught up in the moment but the lefty was beaten by one player, Derek Jeter, in his last start. Jeter had three of his five hits - including No. 3,000 - on the day against Price and the Yankees went on to post a 5-4 win. Price is 4-3 lifetime with a 3.43 ERA against the Red Sox and lost his only start against Boston this season, allowing five hits and three runs in five innings.

Boston recently struggled through a nine-game stretch against the National League in interleague play when it was forced to sit designated hitter David Ortiz. The Red Sox may have to figure out a way to win without Ortiz again soon as he was suspended for four games for his part in a benches-clearing brawl against the Baltimore Orioles. Ortiz would still have the right to appeal any suspension.

Boston remains without former Ray Carl Crawford, who has missed 21 games with a hamstring injury. He is not expected to return for this series. Boston leads the majors in runs scored (5.36 per game) and batting average (.278).

Typically playing in front of sparse crowds, Tampa Bay is just 21-21 at home this season. The Rays just don’t hit well at home either. Tampa Bay is batting .228 at home, as opposed to .256 on the road. The Rays have scored 3.26 runs a game at home compared to just over 5.00 on the road. The Rays defeated the Red Sox the first three times they met this season, but Boston has won the last two meetings. All of the games have been low scoring, except the first one when Tampa Bay posted a 15-6 victory.

The Rays have dumped a lot of high-priced talent in recent years. Should they fall out of the race, they might be inclined to part ways with B.J. Upton and James Shields before the trading deadline.

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• Baseball Matchup

Tags

andrew miller - b.j. upton - baltimore orioles - boston red sox - carl crawford - david ortiz - david price - derek jeter - james shields - josh beckett

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