The Boston Red Sox are looking to avoid a sweep today against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Game time is 1:10 p.m. ET and the Sox are sitting Rafael Devers. Here's the full Sox lineup against Tampa pitcher Jeffrey Springs.
The Red Sox have dropped the first 2 games of this 4-game series, sinking their record below .500 after sweeping the Detroit Tigers in a 3-game series over the weekend. They put up 24 total runs against the Tigers but have plated just 2 runs against Tampa Bay. Boston still ranks 7th in total runs scored (61) but the pitching staff has struggled and is one of 3 times with zero quality starts.
The Rays are tied for the 3rd-longest winning streak to start the season in the history of MLB, going a perfect 11-0 to tie the 1981 Oakland Athletics and trailing the 1982 Atlanta Braves and 1987 Milwaukee Brewers with 13 wins. Tampa Bay leads the AL East by 4 games, has scored the most runs (83) in baseball, owns the lowest ERA (1.73) and are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the most quality starts (7).
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The Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays have a long-standing rivalry that dates back to the early days of the American League East division. Over the years, the two teams have faced off in countless memorable games and series, with each squad boasting some of the best players in baseball.
One of the key factors that have made the Red Sox-Rays rivalry so intense is the fact that the two teams are often competing for the top spot in the division. Since the AL East was formed in 1969, both the Red Sox and the Rays have had their fair share of success, with each team winning multiple division titles and making several deep postseason runs.
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In recent years, however, the Rays have emerged as a particularly formidable foe for the Red Sox. Despite having a smaller payroll and less star power than some of the other teams in the division, the Rays have consistently been a thorn in the side of the Red Sox, using their innovative strategies and deep bullpen to stay competitive year after year.
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One of the most notable examples of the Rays' ability to outmaneuver the Red Sox came in the 2018 regular season. Despite having one of the best records in baseball, the Red Sox struggled mightily against the Rays, going just 7-12 in their 19 meetings. In particular, the Rays' pitching staff was able to stifle the Red Sox's potent offense, holding them to just 3.58 runs per game over the course of the season series.
Of course, the Red Sox have had their fair share of successes against the Rays as well. In 2013, the two teams met in the American League Division Series, with the Red Sox coming out on top in four games. Led by a dominant performance from pitcher Jon Lester and clutch hitting from the likes of David Ortiz and Shane Victorino, the Red Sox were able to overcome a talented Rays team and advance to the ALCS.
More recently, the Red Sox and Rays faced off in the 2020 ALCS, with the Rays once again emerging victorious. Despite a valiant effort from the Red Sox, who fought their way into the playoffs despite low expectations, the Rays were simply too much to handle, winning the series in seven games to advance to the World Series.
As we look ahead to the 2023 season, both the Red Sox and Rays are expected to once again be competitive in the AL East. The Red Sox are coming off a strong campaign in which they won 92 games and made it to the AL Wild Card game before falling to the eventual champion Houston Astros. Led by the likes of Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, and J.D. Martinez, the Red Sox boast one of the most potent offenses in baseball, and their starting pitching staff figures to be solid as well.
Meanwhile, the Rays will be looking to build on their success from the past few seasons. Despite losing some key players to free agency, including pitcher Blake Snell and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, the Rays still have a talented roster that is capable of competing with anyone in the league. Their bullpen, in particular, figures to be a strength once again, with the likes of Nick Anderson, Diego Castillo, and Pete Fairbanks all returning.
When the Red Sox and Rays take the field in 2023, there will be plenty of storylines to watch. Will the Red Sox be able to finally solve the Rays' pitching staff and get the better of their rivals? Or will the Rays once again prove to be a thorn in the Red Sox's side and emerge as the team to beat in the AL East? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: whenever these two teams meet, it's always must-see TV.