Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays – Prediction, 9/18/2024, MLB Tips, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: NESN

Tropicana Field is the venue where the Tampa Bay Rays (73-77) will face the Boston Red Sox (75-75) on Wednesday. The starting pitchers are Cooper Criswell and Ryan Pepiot.

As a team, the Boston Red Sox score 4.7 runs per game, ranking 9th in baseball. They have scored 710 runs and have a .321 on-base percentage. As a team, the Red Sox have 291 two-baggers and hit 186 balls out of the ballpark. They have 684 RBIs this season, 1,323 hits and a batting average of .255. Boston has a .430 slugging percentage and has been hit 1,455 times while walking 454 times.

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The Red Sox have posted a team ERA of 4.12 (18th in baseball) on the season, and the team has benched 1,264 hitters. The Red Sox pitchers have allowed 183 home runs and 706 total runs (23rd in MLB). They have benched 427 hitters via walks, and their FIP as a team is 4.17 for the year. Boston has allowed 1,266 base hits (8.5 per 9 innings) and 615 earned runs. They have posted a K/BB ratio of 2.96, and the pitching staff has a combined WHIP of 1.26.

Red Sox relief pitchers have entered the game with players on base 150 times and have made 177 appearances in high-pressure situations. The bullpen has accumulated 78 holds this season (16th in MLB). Red Sox relief pitchers have a save percentage of 55.2% and have entered the game in 149 save situations. They have recorded 37 saves this season and missed 30 of 67 opportunities to make a save. Relief pitchers have taken on 211 runners this season, and 34.6% of those players have ended up scoring. The Red Sox have sent 487 relief pitchers to the mound this season.

The Boston Red Sox have 4,031 putouts, 1,327 assists and 108 errors this season. Their fielding percentage is .980, which ranks 30th in baseball, and they have made 107 double plays. The Red Sox have converted 69.3% of balls in play into outs in their 12,093 innings, which ranks 20th in professional baseball.

Criswell has thrown 135 innings in his MLB career and has 101 strikeouts. His earned run average is 4.53 (68 ERs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.407. He has allowed 148 base hits (9.9 hits per nine innings) and 42 walks. Criswell (career record 7-6 wins/losses) has a FIP of 4.47 while facing 588 opposing batters in the Major Leagues.

The Tampa Bay Rays have a team OBP of .304 and a batting average of .230 so far this season. They have had 1,379 base hits (6th in the league) and 1,154 base hits. Tampa Bay has had 136 long balls so far this year, along with 531 RBIs. The Rays have a SLG% of .368 and are scoring 3.80 runs per game (28th in MLB). They have 235 two-baggers, 469 walks and 570 runs scored.

Tampa Bay’s pitchers have allowed 634 runs this season and posted a team ERA of 3.88 (576 earned runs allowed). They have allowed 190 home runs and allowed 4.27 runs per 9 innings (12th in the league). The Rays have a team WHIP of 1.222 with a FIP of 4.19 as a unit this year. Their K/BB ratio is 8.60 (1,280 strikeouts vs. 424 walks). They rank 14th in the league as a team in total hits allowed with 1,209.

Tampa Bay has called bullpen pitchers into the contest on 66 save opportunities and they have made 46 saves. They rank 3rd in MLB with a 69.7% save rate and have sent 505 relief pitchers to the mound this season. Their relief pitchers have stepped to the mound 188 times in high pressure situations and also 117 times with base runners. Tampa Bay relief pitchers have a 24.0% taken score rate from 171 base runners taken. With 165 save situations, the Rays have compiled 97 holds and 20 blown saves.

The Tampa Bay Rays have 103 double plays and a fielding percentage of .984 (22nd in the Major League). The Rays have accumulated 1,186 assists, 85 errors and 4,010 putouts this season. Of their 12,030 innings pitched, the Rays have a defensive efficiency of 70.6% (8th in professional baseball).

In his career so far, Pepiot has allowed 146 base hits and has struck out 199 Ks in 193 innings pitched. Pepiot (13-7 career win-loss record) has a 3.36 ERA and 6.8 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed 72 ERs and holds a 1.139 WHIP and 3.3 FIP. He has a 2.69 K/BB ratio and has faced 798 batters in his MLB career.

Who will win today’s MLB game against the spread or the moneyline?

Josh Schonwald’s tip: Take Boston

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