Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays 8/1/21 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Boston Red Sox conclude a three-game series on the road Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Boston is 63-42 following a 7-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Friday in the opening game of the series. Boston has lost two straight and three of the last four. The Red Sox lead atop the American League East has been whittled down to just a half-game over second place Tampa Bay.

Xander Bogaerts is batting.308 to lead Boston and the shortstop has team highs in hits with 111 and on-base percentage at .370. Third baseman Rafael Devers is the leader in home runs with 27 and RBIs with 82. Boston has hit 132 home runs in 105 games. On Sunday, Boston will send Nick Pivetta the mound. The right-hander is 8-4 with an ERA of 4.51, 120 Ks and 48 BBs.

Tampa Bay improved to 62-42 with its victory on Friday over the Red Sox. Mike Zunino, Randy Arozarena and Yandy Diaz each homered for Tampa Bay in the victory. Tampa Bay has won two straight and seven of the last 10 to move to within a half-game of the first-place Red Sox. Tampa Bay is seven games ahead of the third-place New York Yankees.

Yandy Diaz is batting .260 to lead Tampa Bay and the first baseman has a team-high .373 on-base percentage. Second baseman Brandon Lowe is the leader in home runs with 22, while designated hitter Austin Meadows is the leader in RBIs with 76. On Sunday, Tampa Bay will send Shane McClanahan to the mound. The left-hander is 4-4 with an ERA of 3.93, 84 Ks and 25 BBs.