Red Sox-Rays Lines Preview

If familiarity breeds contempt, there should be animosity aplenty on Saturday when the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays meet at Tropicana Field. The Red Sox will trot Tim Wakefield out to the mound in this one. Righthander Wakefield has a 2-1 record and a 1.86 ERA this season. The Rays will counter Wakefield with Jeff Niemann. Righthander Niemann has a 4.43 ERA to go along with a 2-2 record this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Red Sox listed as 120-moneyline favorites versus the Rays, while the game's total has not yet been posted. The Rays won their second straight over the Red Sox with a 6-2 victory on Friday, as +100 underdogs. That game's eight runs went UNDER the posted total of 9. Evan Longoria led the Rays with a grand slam home run. Andy Sonnanstine allowed just eight hits and two runs over 5 2-3 innings in the loss. Justin Masterson had six hits and six runs over six innings for the Red Sox, who were favored at -120. Current streak: Boston has lost 2 straight games. Tampa Bay has won 2 straight games. Team records: Boston: 14-9 SU Tampa Bay: 10-14 SU Boston most recently: When playing on Saturday are 8-2 Before playing Tampa Bay are 5-5 After playing Tampa Bay are 2-8 After a loss are 4-6 Tampa Bay most recently: When playing on Saturday are 5-5 Before playing Boston are 5-5 After playing Boston are 6-4 After a win are 3-7 A few trends to consider: Boston is 12-3 SU in its last 15 games Boston is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games on the road Boston is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay Boston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay Tampa Bay is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Boston Tampa Bay is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Boston Next up: Tampa Bay home to Boston, Sunday, May 3