Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays 7/30/21 - MLB Picks & Predictions

On Friday, the Boston Red Sox play the first game of a three-game series on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays. Boston improved to 63-40 following a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays and the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday. The Red Sox lost the opening game of the doubleheader 4-1. Boston is first in the American League East with a 2 ½-game lead over the second-place Rays.

Xander Bogaerts is batting .309 to lead Boston and the shortstop has a team high .372 on-base percentage. Third baseman Rafael Devers is leading Boston in home runs with 27 and RBIs with 82, while outfielder J D Martinez is the leader in hits with 109. On Friday, Boston will send Martin Perez to the mound. The left-hander is 7-6 with an ERA of 4.18, 80 Ks and 32 BBs.

Tampa Bay is 60-42 following a 3-1 loss to the New York Yankees on Wednesday. Tampa Bay has lost three straight after dropping each of the first two games in this series against the Yankees and losing the final game of a series to Cleveland on Sunday. Prior to losing its last three games, Tampa Bay had won five straight and closed to within one game of Boston in the AL East but now trails by 2 ½ games.

Randy Arozarena is batting .256 to lead Tampa Bay and the left fielder has a team-high 91 hits. Second baseman Brandon Moss is leading Tampa Bay in home runs with 22 and designated hitter Austin Meadows is the leader in RBIs with 71. On Friday, Tampa Bay will send Josh Fleming to the mound. The left-hander is 7-5 with an ERA of 4.07, 44 Ks and 20 BBs.