After a triumphant victory over the New York Yankees in the Wild Card game, the Boston Red Sox looked utterly lifeless in the first game of the ALDS on Thursday night getting shut out 5-0 in a postseason game for the first time since the 2016 ALDS.
In many ways, the Tampa Bay Rays were the better team in the regular season, but the Red Sox spent 85 days in first place, won 92 games, and got all the way here. I expected them to be outmatched, but not bodyslammed into the core of the earth at the Trop.
What Time is the Red Sox Game Today?
First pitch today is scheduled for 7:02 PM ET.
What Channel is the Red Sox Game on Today?
Today’s Red Sox game is available on Fox Sports 1 and MLB.TV (blackout restrictions may apply).
Red Sox vs Rays Odds Today
It’s unlikely the Red Sox will be favored once on the moneyline in this series, but don’t fret: they won many games in the regular season with the odds stacked against them. (They also lost many games in September that they were favored to win, but they made it here!)
The Rays are -130 (bet $130 to win $100) on the moneyline to the Red Sox’ +120 (bet $100 to win $120).
The spread has Tampa Bay -1.5 at +155 (bet $155 to win $100) and Boston +1.5 at -175 (bet $175 to win $100).
If betting runs is more up your alley, the over/under tonight is 7.5, with the over an even +100 (bet $100 to keep $100) and the under -120 (bet $120 to win $100).
Red Sox Pitcher Today: Chris Sale
I hate to burst your ‘ace on the mound’ bubble, but Chris Sale has struggled a lot in the postseason. Hopefully, he fares better post-Tommy John, but prepare yourself. If the Red Sox want to win this one, they’re going to have to score a lot of runs.
Over seven career games (four starts, three relief), Sale has a 5.76 ERA. In fairness, he had to work that down from his postseason debut; you may recall Game 1 of the 2017 ALDS against the Houston Astros when he allowed seven earned runs (including multiple home runs to Jose Altuve) and the Sox lost 8-2. After that, he had a 12.60 postseason ERA that he had to bring down.
But even in 2018, after being hurt during the regular season, Sale struggled in October. He allowed two or three earned runs in each of his three starts; his only scoreless appearances were his one-run relief appearances in the ALDS and World Series.
In his regular-season return after two full years away, Sale posted a 3.16 ERA over nine starts. For some of them, he looked like Chris Sale. But overall, there’s some rust to shake off, as evidenced by his short start on Sunday. Manager Alex Cora pulled him after 2 1/3 innings; he’d struck out seven but issued three walks and allowed two earned runs. In fairness, it was a must-win game and Sale was laboring.
Sale will face off against Shane Baz, who made his debut like, two weeks ago. He’s started three big-league games ever – none of them against Boston – and has a 2.03 ERA over a grand total of 13 1/3 innings. All three of the earned runs he’s allowed have been home runs, and he’s issued three walks and struck out 18 batters.
Red Sox Starting Lineup
Check back later for today’s lineup!
Red Sox vs Rays Prediction Today
The Red Sox score at least one run.
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Red Sox vs Rays Live Stream
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