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Boston Red Sox Begin Series With Rays
A recent surge by the Tampa Bay Rays, combined with a slump by the Boston Red Sox, has injected some life into what seemed to be a mundane American League wild card race.
After last weekend’s sweep of the BoSox Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay brings lots of confidence into this weekend’s four-game set at Fenway Park, which begins Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled at 7:10 p.m. (ET).
The early send-out pricing on the matchup sees Tampa Bay and Jeremy Hellickson at -120 over the Red Sox and Notre Dame alum Kyle Weiland, priced at even money. The total started at 9 ½.
Conventional wisdom suggests that the Rays, who had pulled to within four games of the Red Sox entering Wednesday action, need to win at least three of the four clashes this weekend in Beantown to stay in the wild card picture. Prior to Wednesday’s matchup at Baltimore, Tampa Bay had won five of six and eight of 10, including that sweep of the BoSox in St. Pete last weekend when bludgeoning Terry Francona’s pitching staff by scoring 22 runs in the three wins.
Francona gambles in Thursday’s series opener by starting the little-used Kyle Weiland, who was ineffective last Saturday vs. the Rays when allowing three runs, six hits and three walks in just four innings of work in an eventual 6-5 defeat. The Red Sox offense had also been slumping prior to erupting for 18 runs in Tuesday’s win over the visiting Blue Jays, and had scored two runs or fewer on four different occasions in September prior to Wednesday’s game vs. Toronto.
Meanwhile, Francona’s opposite number Joe Maddon figures to have more confidence in Hellickson, who was more effective than Weiland in that Saturday matchup. The rookie allowed only five hits over his six innings of work in the win. Hellickson’s recent efforts offer plenty of reason for encouragement, including an ERA of 2.00 over his last five starts.
It’s worth noting that Hellickson has lost twice in those last five starts, but it was hardly his fault, with the Rays blanked on both of those occasions vs. the playoff-bound Rangers and Tigers.
Hellickson’s stat line for this season against Boston suggests he might be up to the challenge at Fenway. He’s allowed only 14 hits over 18 1/3 innings of work in three previous starts vs. the Red Sox, with the Rays winning two of those matchups, including a 16-5 rout back on April 11.
Indeed, in Hellickson’s 14 starts since June 10, he’s allowed over three runs just once. Over the entire season, Hellickson’s stats include impressive ERA (2.96), WHIP (1.14) and OBA (.214) numbers.
Also worth considering is Tampa Bay’s prowess on the road, where it has offered better value than at The Trop this season. The Rays have provided good return as a visitor this campaign, with a 40-32 mark and an impressive 9.96 units. Meanwhile, the BoSox, often overpriced, have provided far less value at Fenway where they’re -4.88 units in 2011.
There is a good chance of showers during the day but they should taper off towards game time. It will be a little on the cool side in Boston with temps dropping into the 50s and a 12-15 mph WNW wind (3B out towards Pesky's Pole).
A recent surge by the Tampa Bay Rays, combined with a slump by the Boston Red Sox, has injected some life into what seemed to be a mundane American League wild card race.
After last weekend’s sweep of the BoSox Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay brings lots of confidence into this weekend’s four-game set at Fenway Park, which begins Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled at 7:10 p.m. (ET).
The early send-out pricing on the matchup sees Tampa Bay and Jeremy Hellickson at -120 over the Red Sox and Notre Dame alum Kyle Weiland, priced at even money. The total started at 9 ½.
Conventional wisdom suggests that the Rays, who had pulled to within four games of the Red Sox entering Wednesday action, need to win at least three of the four clashes this weekend in Beantown to stay in the wild card picture. Prior to Wednesday’s matchup at Baltimore, Tampa Bay had won five of six and eight of 10, including that sweep of the BoSox in St. Pete last weekend when bludgeoning Terry Francona’s pitching staff by scoring 22 runs in the three wins.
Francona gambles in Thursday’s series opener by starting the little-used Kyle Weiland, who was ineffective last Saturday vs. the Rays when allowing three runs, six hits and three walks in just four innings of work in an eventual 6-5 defeat. The Red Sox offense had also been slumping prior to erupting for 18 runs in Tuesday’s win over the visiting Blue Jays, and had scored two runs or fewer on four different occasions in September prior to Wednesday’s game vs. Toronto.
Meanwhile, Francona’s opposite number Joe Maddon figures to have more confidence in Hellickson, who was more effective than Weiland in that Saturday matchup. The rookie allowed only five hits over his six innings of work in the win. Hellickson’s recent efforts offer plenty of reason for encouragement, including an ERA of 2.00 over his last five starts.
It’s worth noting that Hellickson has lost twice in those last five starts, but it was hardly his fault, with the Rays blanked on both of those occasions vs. the playoff-bound Rangers and Tigers.
Hellickson’s stat line for this season against Boston suggests he might be up to the challenge at Fenway. He’s allowed only 14 hits over 18 1/3 innings of work in three previous starts vs. the Red Sox, with the Rays winning two of those matchups, including a 16-5 rout back on April 11.
Indeed, in Hellickson’s 14 starts since June 10, he’s allowed over three runs just once. Over the entire season, Hellickson’s stats include impressive ERA (2.96), WHIP (1.14) and OBA (.214) numbers.
Also worth considering is Tampa Bay’s prowess on the road, where it has offered better value than at The Trop this season. The Rays have provided good return as a visitor this campaign, with a 40-32 mark and an impressive 9.96 units. Meanwhile, the BoSox, often overpriced, have provided far less value at Fenway where they’re -4.88 units in 2011.
There is a good chance of showers during the day but they should taper off towards game time. It will be a little on the cool side in Boston with temps dropping into the 50s and a 12-15 mph WNW wind (3B out towards Pesky's Pole).
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