Written by :
Published on :
Carrie Stroup here with your Red Sox vs. Rays betting line for May 16, 2012. LIVE and IN-PROGRESS BETTING will be available for this game at Sportsbook here. It will be broadcast on ESPN.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Tampa Bay -139 & 8.5 under -115
The Red Sox will look to continue their climb out of the AL East cellar, beginning a two-game series against the division-leading Rays
After a dreadful start to the season, the Red Sox have found their groove, winning five straight games, including the past four by a combined score of 27-3. Clay Buchholz takes the hill for Boston in this one, having started the winning streak last week. Although he has a 4-1 record on the season, 2012 is not treating the young right-hander favorably with an 8.31 ERA and 1.97 WHIP in seven starts. He has just been the beneficiary of incredible run support as the Boston lineup is averaging 8.3 runs per start when he’s on the mound. Facing the Rays is always good news for him though—in nine career starts against Tampa Bay he is 5-2 with a 2.38 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, with opponents hitting a mere .197 off him. Jeremy Hellickson takes the hill for the Rays with a 3-0 record and 2.95 ERA in 2012. His worst start of the year came on April 14, facing none other than Buchholz and the Red Sox, when he gave up five runs in as many innings in a no-decision loss, while Buchholz gave up five runs in seven innings for the win. Those struggles reflect Hellickson’s career difficulties with the Red Sox, sporting a 4.99 career ERA and 1.47 WHIP against them.
Although Boston’s rotation has struggled, the bullpen has been picking up the slack. Red Sox relievers have a 3.86 ERA on the season, a mark that improves to 3.21 in away games, a good sign for these road underdogs. And, despite Boston’s early-season struggles, it is 3-1 against Tampa Bay this season, outscoring the Rays 31-12 in that four-game set at Fenway Park from April 13-16. Buchholz is coming off his best outing of the year, holding Cleveland to three earned runs in 6.1 innings last Friday. If Buchholz can build upon this facing a familiar opponent without its best player (Evan Longoria, hamstring injury), the Red Sox offense should be able to do the rest of the work. Boston ranks among the majors’ top-four teams in runs (199, 2nd), batting average (.276, 3rd), on-base percentage (.339, 4th), and slugging (.460, 4th).
The Rays have also been supported by a stellar bullpen, especially at home where they have a 1.81 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. Hellickson’s start against Boston was easily his worst of the season so far, not giving up more than three runs in any other start. The one spot of concern for Hellickson has to be that he doesn’t fan batters, with 29 strikeouts and 16 walks this season. He has also allowed eight home runs already. Homers and walks could be a problem against Boston’s big bats that take advantage of every opportunity they get.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
