The Tampa Bay Rays host the Boston Red Sox on September 18, 2026. First pitch from Tropicana Field is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on NESN.
The Rays are favored by -126 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Red Sox are +105 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 7 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Red Sox vs Rays prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Red Sox vs Rays Prediction
- Red Sox vs Rays Pick: Red Sox ML (+105)
My Red Sox vs Rays best bet is on Boston to win. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page and be sure to download the Action Network app for more picks and analysis.
Red Sox vs Rays Odds
| Red Sox Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -205 | 7 -123o / 103u | +105 |
| Rays Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +168 | 7 -123o / 103u | -126 |
- Red Sox vs Rays moneyline: Red Sox +105, Rays -126
- Red Sox vs Rays over/under: 7 (-123o / 103u)
- Red Sox vs Rays spread: Rays -1.5 (+168), Red Sox +1.5 (-205)
Red Sox vs Rays Probable Pitchers
| Ranger Suarez | Stat | Ian Seymour |
|---|---|---|
| 7-4 | W-L | 9-6 |
| 3.6 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 1.5 |
| 3.33 / 3.69 | ERA / xERA | 4.27 / 3.50 |
| 3.08 / 3.66 | FIP / xFIP | 4.02 / 3.45 |
| 15.8 | K-BB% | 22.8 |
| 41.5 | GB% | 32.3 |
| .300 | BABIP | .279 |
| 94 | Stuff+ | 102 |
| 106 | Location+ | 102 |
Red Sox vs Rays MLB Betting Preview
Red Sox vs Rays Pick, Betting Analysis
Ranger Suarez and Ian Seymour face off in a battle of southpaws down in Tampa. Despite the Rays' 10 1/2 game lead in the standings, Boston has the advantage to start this game. The Red Sox' offense ranks sixth-best against LHP (107 wRC+), while the Rays' offense ranks 19th (92 wRC+) against them.
The Rays' offense (117 wRC+) is much better than Boston's (74 wRC+) in the past two weeks, but they are even throughout the past month.
Suarez's ERA is a full run lower than Seymour's, but both have similar peripheral metrics between xERA, xFIP, and SIERA. Seymour has better results at home (3.75 ERA), while Suarez has better results on the road (2.95 ERA). The pitching matchup is strong, regardless of name value, and even.
Nevertheless, the Red Sox' offensive advantage vs. LHP, along with their recent activation of lefty-masher Willson Contreras, makes them the better bet today, especially at plus odds.
Pick: Red Sox ML (+105)
