Baseball Picks: Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays
Written April 30, 2009 by Jordan Haimowitz
As the Red Sox were down 5-0 to the Tribe last night heading into the top of the 6th inning, it looked like they would drop two in a row and start a mini-slide, or did it? To people who are unaware of this team’s character, grit, determination and cohesiveness, last night summed up the past five years in a nutshell. It doesn’t matter how many runs they are down, this team never feels like they are out of any game, which is true, they never are. The rally started with a RBI double from both Lowell and Varitek in the 6th, they put up three runs in the 7th and in the 10th inning, another one of the Boston’s young guns homered to give them a 6-5 lead. This time it was Jonathan Van Every who rang the bell with the go-ahead homer. The seemingly unlimited number of young promising stars this team has is incredible. Papelbon came in to close the deal and that gave them their come back victory. Tonight Boston heads to Tampa for a four-game series. The Red Sox Nation keeps clicking as Ellsbury and Pedroia come up with clutch its every night and Jason Bay and Kevin Youkilis have been two of the better players in the American League. Mike Lowell is off to a great start and the Captain, Jason Varitek is even getting some key hits. To think this team is 14-7 with Lester pitching god-awful and Daisuke on the DL is scary. Josh Beckett takes the mound tonight, and that spells danger for the Rays as Beckett is coming off one of the worst performances of his career. He went 5 innings giving up 10 hits and 8 runs to the Yankees on April 25th. He also started five games verse the Rays last season, which was more then any other team he faced. In those five starts he went 2-1 with a 2.06 ERA while striking out 37 batters in 35 innings. He also held Tampa to a .209 BA. Today’s baseball lines show the Red Sox -106 against Tampa with the total set for 9 runs.
Tampa Bay is 8-14 on the year and look terrible in every way. They must be thrilled they are finally coming home from their nine game road trip in which they lost four of their last five games. Carlos Pena has been a stud posting nine home runs and 24 RBIs along side Evan Longoria who has five home runs, 18 RBIs and has a .365 BA to date. That’s about it for the offense. The rest of this lineup has been putrid. Pat Burrell has been beyond awful, Carl Crawford has not done much of anything, Iwamura has a .296 BA, but has not contributed in any other way, and Dioner Navarro has followed up his all-star year last season by looking like one of baseball’s worst catchers. So in a game that will be considered crucial for Tampa’s mind set the Rays start Matt Garza, who has impressed nobody since the start of the season. Through his first four starts he is 1-2 with a 4.96 ERA. That one win came against Boston at Fenway, so that is a positive note for this team, and for Garza’s confidence. Garza last year was 2-2 against Boston with a 4.50 ERA. This is a big game. Yes, I am aware it is only April and I may be exaggerating its importance a bit, however, Tampa can not afford to fall behind too many games. Tampa is a slight underdog for a good reason. Look below.
Haimo’s Hot Notes: The Red Sox are 12-1 in their last 13 games. The Rays are 4-10 in their last 14 games overall. Now, this is where the trends will steer you in the wrong direction. Boston is 3-11 against the Rays in the last 14 games in Tampa Bay. The Rays are 13-6 in their last 19 meetings overall verse the Sox. Forget that. Josh Beckett is coming off of a start at home in which he was blasted by the Yankees. The type of competitor that he is, combined with how bad the Rays are playing, sets this up for a Red Sox victory. We are riding the Nation again. Many will think that with Boston traveling from Cleveland to Tampa they will be tired. I laugh at that, this is a group of champions. I will declare this my BEST BET of the night. Chew on that, Red Sox take it 5-1.
Betting Line: Red Sox -106
Jordan’s Pick: Red Sox -106 (BEST BET)
Ring it up. Down 5-0 in the top of the 6th, no need to worry. These are champion-pedigree men. The 6-5 Boston win has Jordan’s Picks reaching record milestones. That new car and dream vacation I mentioned three weeks ago is looking more like a jet plane and a yacht about now . Be assured I’ll be here night in and night out to help guide you folks through the year. So with that said, who’s rolling with me tonight? Lets get busy.
Documented MLB Record:
36-14 OVERALL
15-3 BEST BET
Betfirms is your choice for tips and predictions for betting on baseball. Be sure you check out the other MLB picks for today from some of our other red-hot handicappers.
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I wish I could bet on a batter getting hit. These teams don’t like each other. This is a solid pick, Beckett to bounce back and The sox just keep finding ways to win.
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