Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays 7/31/21 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Boston Red Sox play the second game of a three-game series on the road Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Boston dropped to 63-41 following a 13-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday. Boston was defeated in two of three games at home by the Blue Jays. However, the Red Sox remain in first place in the American League East with a 1 ½-game lead over the second-place Rays.

Xander Bogaerts is batting .307 to lead Boston and the shortstop has a team-high .370 on-base percentage. Third baseman Rafael Devers is the leader in home runs with 27 and RBIs with 82, while outfielder J D Martinez is the leader in hits with 109. On Saturday, Boston will send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound. The right-hander is 9-5 with an ERA of 3.49, 114 Ks and 21 BBs.

Tampa Bay improved to 61-42 following a 14-0 rout over the New York Yankees on Thursday.  Brett Phillips belted a grand slam for Tampa Bay in the sixth inning when the Rays scored 10 runs. Tampa Bay avoided being swept by New York with the win after losing each of the first two games of the series. Tampa inched closer to first base in the AL East but still trails the Red Sox by 1 ½ games.

Randy Arozarena is batting .258 to lead Tampa Bay and the left fielder has a team-high 93 hits. Second baseman Brandon Lowe is the leader in home runs with 22 and designated hitter Austin Meadows is the leader in RBIs with 76. On Saturday, the Tampa Bay Rays will send Ryan Yarbrough to the mound. The left-hander is 6-4 with an ERA of 4.38, 90 Ks and 20 BBs.