Rays-Red Sox Preview

If familiarity breeds contempt, there should be animosity aplenty on Thursday when the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox meet at Fenway Park. James Shields will be the starting pitcher for the Rays on this day. Righthander Shields is 4-3 this season with a 3.24 ERA. Meanwhile, it'll be Jon Lester who starts for the Red Sox. Lefthander Lester is 3-3 with a 3.67 ERA so far this season. NewBodog oddsmakers currently have the Red Sox listed as 122-moneyline favorites versus the Rays, while the game's total has not yet been posted. The Red Sox went up 2-0 in their three-game series with the Rays with a 5-1 win on Wednesday, as -185 favorites. The six runs fell UNDER the posted over/under (9). J.D. Drew went 2-for-3 with one RBI and scored twice for the Red Sox. Josh Beckett tossed six innings for the win, allowing one run off seven hits. Eric Hinske had two hits and one RBI in a losing effort for the Rays, who were +165 underdogs in the contest. Edwin Jackson allowed four runs off six hits in five innings on the mound. Current streak: Tampa Bay has lost 2 straight games. Boston has won 2 straight games. Team records: Tampa Bay: 35-24 SU Boston: 37-25 SU Tampa Bay most recently: When playing on Thursday are 6-4 Before playing Texas are 7-3 After playing Boston are 5-5 After a loss are 7-3 Boston most recently: When playing on Thursday are 6-4 Before playing Seattle are 5-5 After playing Tampa Bay are 7-3 After a win are 7-3 A few trends to consider: The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Tampa Bay's last 7 games The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing Boston The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing on the road against Boston Tampa Bay is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay Boston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games Next up: Tampa Bay at Texas, Friday, June 6 Boston home to Seattle, Friday, June 6