2021 MLB playoffs: Red Sox vs. Rays odds, ALDS Game 1 picks, predictions from expert on 31-19 run

The Boston Red Sox visit the Tampa Bay Rays to begin a best-of-five American League Division Series on Thursday evening. Boston advanced with a win over the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card Game on Tuesday. Tampa Bay earned a playoff berth by winning the AL East in 2021. The Rays held an 11-8 advantage in 19 games against the Red Sox this season.

First pitch is at 8:07 p.m. ET in Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay is listed as a -160 favorite (risk $160 to win $100) on the money line, while the over-under, or total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, is eight in the latest Red Sox vs. Rays odds. Before making any Rays vs. Red Sox picks or MLB playoff predictions, you need to see what red-hot SportsLine expert Larry Hartstein has to say.

Hartstein, SportsLine’s senior analyst and an Early Edge podcast regular, is a blistering 85-59 in 2021 MLB picks, returning more than $1,200. He is also 40-20 in his last 60 MLB picks overall. In addition, Hartstein has an amazing 31-19 record on his last 50 picks involving Boston, returning more than $900. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, Hartstein has set his sights on Red Sox vs. Rays and he just revealed his MLB playoff 2021 picks and analysis. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Now, here are several MLB playoffs odds and betting lines and trends for Rays vs. Red Sox:

• Red Sox vs. Rays money line: Rays -160, Red Sox +150
• Red Sox vs. Rays over-under: 8 runs 
• Red Sox vs. Rays run line: Rays -1.5 (+130)
• BOS: The Red Sox are 43-38 in 2021 road games 
• TB: The Rays are 52-29 at home this season

Featured Game | Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox

Why you should back the Red Sox

Boston relies on a potent offense, and that was on display in a Wild Card Game win over the New York Yankees on Tuesday. The Red Sox forced elite starting pitcher Gerrit Cole out of the game early and scored six runs in impressive fashion. For the season, Boston led the American League with 330 doubles, and the Red Sox were No. 2 in the AL with a .449 slugging percentage as a team. 

The Red Sox also finished in the top four in OPS (.777), batting average (.261), total bases (2,467) and runs scored (829). Boston has real depth throughout its lineup, headlined by Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts. Devers led the team with 38 home runs and a .890 OPS this season, experiencing a full-fledged breakout. Bogaerts is a steady hand, producing 23 home runs, 34 doubles and a .493 slugging percentage with strong defense in 2021.

Why you should back the Rays

The Rays are a deep team that is strong in virtually every aspect. Tampa Bay finished in the top five among American League teams in a myriad of offensive categories, headlined by the No. 2 mark in runs (857) and the No. 3 mark in home runs (222), walks (585) and doubles (288). With `0 different players reaching double figures in home runs in 2021, Tampa Bay’s offense is balanced, and it has high-level power with Brandon Lowe (39 home runs) and Mike Zunino (33 home runs, .559 slugging percentage). 

Tampa Bay also led the American League in ERA (3.69) this season, and its bullpen is perhaps the deepest and best in baseball. The Rays threw more innings (703) out of the bullpen than any other team, with the AL’s best relief ERA (3.24) and the top marks in both wins above replacement and walk rate. The Rays will make any opponent beat them by limiting free passes, and they are a top-four team in the American League in strikeouts (1,478) and home runs allowed (184) for the full season.

How to make Red Sox vs. Rays picks

Hartstein is leaning over on the run total, and he has found a critical x-factor that has him jumping on one side of the money line. You can only his get his expert MLB picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Red Sox vs. Rays? And which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of Red Sox vs. Rays you need to jump on Thursday, all from the expert that has crushed his MLB picks, and find out.  

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