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MLB
Saturday, May 2
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Tips and Trends
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Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays [7:05 PM ET]
Red Sox (-$1.15, O/U 9 over -$1.15): The Red Sox are hoping Tim Wakefield can end their Tropicana Field jinx. The Red Sox have had losing road marks in each of the last two seasons. They have especially struggled at Tampa Bay losing 11 of their past 12 road contests to the Rays. Wakefield was 0-3 versus the Rays last season, giving up 12 runs in his last five innings. However, the veteran knuckelballer is 19-5 lifetime versus Tampa Bay with a 3.32 ERA. This is his first start against Tampa Bay this year. Wakefield has yielded just three runs in
his last 23 innings. He has given up three runs or fewer in all four of his starts. Akinori Iwamura (.417) and Carl Crawford (.305) have had success against Wakefield, but Carlos Pena is batting just .133 against him. Boston is 18-3 in their last 21 games when Wally Bell has been the home plate umpire.
Boston is 3-11 in Wakefield’s last 14 starts against AL East teams.
The over has cashed in eight of Boston’s last nine road games..
Key Injuries - SS Jed Lowrie (wrist) is on the DL.
OF Mark Kotsay (back) is on the DL.
OF Rocco Baldelli (hamstring) is on the DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: 5
Rays: The Rays have lost their past six series since winning two of three from Boston during the first week of the season. But Tampa Bay has won the first two games of this series. The Rays are 60-29 the past two seasons at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay has won 10 of the past 13 times it has been a home ‘dog. Jeff Niemann faces Boston for the first time. The 6-foot-9 right-hander has a 2.53 ERA in 21 1/3 innings since giving up five runs in the first inning of his season debut. Niemann has allowed at least one home run in each of his first six Major League starts, including all four this season. Evan Longoria is showing no early signs of a sophomore slump with seven homers and 28 RBI this season. The Rays probably aren’t happy to see Bell behind the plate. They are 3-15 when he’s been the home plate umpire.
The over is 11-2 in Tampa Bay’s last 13 games when the total is between nine and 10 ½.
Key Injuries - RP Jason Isringhausen (elbow) is on the DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: 4
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Saturday, May 2
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Tips and Trends
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Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays [7:05 PM ET]
Red Sox (-$1.15, O/U 9 over -$1.15): The Red Sox are hoping Tim Wakefield can end their Tropicana Field jinx. The Red Sox have had losing road marks in each of the last two seasons. They have especially struggled at Tampa Bay losing 11 of their past 12 road contests to the Rays. Wakefield was 0-3 versus the Rays last season, giving up 12 runs in his last five innings. However, the veteran knuckelballer is 19-5 lifetime versus Tampa Bay with a 3.32 ERA. This is his first start against Tampa Bay this year. Wakefield has yielded just three runs in
his last 23 innings. He has given up three runs or fewer in all four of his starts. Akinori Iwamura (.417) and Carl Crawford (.305) have had success against Wakefield, but Carlos Pena is batting just .133 against him. Boston is 18-3 in their last 21 games when Wally Bell has been the home plate umpire.
Boston is 3-11 in Wakefield’s last 14 starts against AL East teams.
The over has cashed in eight of Boston’s last nine road games..
Key Injuries - SS Jed Lowrie (wrist) is on the DL.
OF Mark Kotsay (back) is on the DL.
OF Rocco Baldelli (hamstring) is on the DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: 5
Rays: The Rays have lost their past six series since winning two of three from Boston during the first week of the season. But Tampa Bay has won the first two games of this series. The Rays are 60-29 the past two seasons at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay has won 10 of the past 13 times it has been a home ‘dog. Jeff Niemann faces Boston for the first time. The 6-foot-9 right-hander has a 2.53 ERA in 21 1/3 innings since giving up five runs in the first inning of his season debut. Niemann has allowed at least one home run in each of his first six Major League starts, including all four this season. Evan Longoria is showing no early signs of a sophomore slump with seven homers and 28 RBI this season. The Rays probably aren’t happy to see Bell behind the plate. They are 3-15 when he’s been the home plate umpire.
The over is 11-2 in Tampa Bay’s last 13 games when the total is between nine and 10 ½.
Key Injuries - RP Jason Isringhausen (elbow) is on the DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: 4
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