Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Prediction: Will Nick Pivetta Impress Against Wander Franco and the Rays?

Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Prediction: Will Nick Pivetta Impress Against Wander Franco and the Rays?

The Red Sox and Rays meet in game two of the three-game series from Fenway Park tonight, with the first pitch being thrown at 7:10 EST. The Red Sox took game one in a 4- 0 shutout, thanks to a 5.1-inning outing with no earned runs from Kutter Crawford. Now, the Red Sox look to win another series at home with a win tonight. Can the Red Sox win it behind Pivetta? Or will the Rays get back on track?

Red Sox vs. Rays Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: July 5, 2022
• Game Time: 7:10 pm ET
• Where to Watch: TBS

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Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Prediction

The Red Sox have now won five straight at home. The Red Sox have been hot in their own park, including against the Rays, beating them in the last four head-to-head matches in Fenway Park. Attempting to keep the home winning streak alive tonight will be 29-year-old Nick Pivetta is 8-5 on the season with a 3.23 ERA. Pivetta is even more successful at home, where he is 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA on the season. Pivetta is solely a fastball, curveball pitcher. He uses his curveball's slow, breaking action to slow down hitters, which sets up the speed of his fastball.

Pivetta has seen the Rays in Fenway a few times over the last few years. These are his most recent starts at home against the rays: 4 IP 0 ER, 5 IP 0 ER. Nine scoreless innings in two appearances. Not a huge sample size, but given Pivetta's numbers when pitching in Fenway, I'd say he is consistently good.

Jeffrey Springs gets the start for the Rays today, and he has been solid since moving into the starting rotation. Springs started the year in the bullpen, but in mid-may, he moved into the rotation. Springs is 3-2 with a 2.25 ERA on the season but has regressed just a little in his last two starts. Springs had a 1.9 ERA in five appearances in May, but in his previous two starts, he was touched up a little, going 4.1 innings with four earned runs against the Orioles and 6 IP with three earned runs against the Pirates last time out. That's a 6.1 ERA in his previous two starts, so while it may have been a fluke, he has possibly started regressing a bit. Springs is also slightly worse on the road, as he has a 2.76 road ERA and 1.76 home ERA. Now, he's facing one of the most potent lineups in the league, who are on a five-game home winning streak. Springs will need his best stuff tonight.

The Red Sox are one of the best teams in the league against left-handed pitching. The Red Sox are 14-4 against left-handed starters and just 31-31 against right-handed starters. They are also third in the league with a .270 batting average against lefties. Pivetta has been crushing it at home, and he is a guy I can trust to get it done at home. I'm fading Springs, who may be showing signs of regression. Back the Sox to make it six in a row at home.

Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Pick

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