Tampa Bay Rays (25-12) vs. Boston Red Sox (16-22) May 8, 2026 7:10 pm EDT The Line: Boston Red Sox -136 / Tampa Bay Rays 113; Over/Under: 8.5 (Get latest betting odds)
In this article, we will formulate a Rays vs Red Sox Prediction for this MLB matchup on Friday, May 8 th in the opening game of this series. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
The Boston Red Sox have a 16-22 record this season and are sitting in the fifth place of the AL East. They have a 6-11 home record and are coming off a 4-8 loss at home against the Rays. They will face the Phillies and the Braves next.
The Red Sox have a .237 batting average this season, .315 OBP and .353 Slugging percentage. Boston’s pitching staff has a 4.11 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. Wilyer Abreu is the team’s best hitter with a .300 batting average. Willson Contreras leads the team in RBI with 23, also adding a team‑high 8 home runs.
Connelly Early (L) is the projected starting pitcher for the Red Sox, and he has a 2-2 record, 3.79 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.
The Tampa Bay Rays have a 25-12 record this season and are sitting in the second place of the AL East. They have a 11-8 away record and are coming off an 8-4 win on the road against the Red Sox. They will face the Blue Jays and the Marlins next.
The Rays have a .257 batting average this season, .330 OBP and .379 Slugging percentage. Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has a 3.54 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Yandy Diaz is the team’s best hitter with a .323 batting average. Jonathan Aranda leads the team in RBI with 29, and Junior Caminero adds a team‑high 10 home runs.
Jesse Scholtens (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the Rays, and he has a 3-1 record, 3.18 ERA and 1.15 WHIP.
The Red Sox are 8-2 in their last 10 meetings against the Rays and are 6-1 in their last 5 meetings in Boston.
In this Rays vs Red Sox Prediction, the Red Sox are coming as -135 home favorites. Tampa is the hottest team in baseball right now, having lost only once in its last 10 games and are facing a Boston squad that has been bad at home with a 6-11 record. Scholtens has just three earned runs in four of his five starts for the Rays this season, while Scholtens has been bad at home for the Red Sox with a 6.75 home ERA. The Rays also have a better offense to offer him run support and I like them as underdogs in this spot, so take them on the moneyline for plus money.