The Boston Red Sox host the Tampa Bay Rays on May 8, 2026. First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on RAYS.
The Red Sox are favored by -137 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Rays are +115 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8.5 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Rays vs Red Sox prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Rays vs Red Sox Prediction
- Rays vs Red Sox Pick: Over 9 (+100 or Better, FanDuel)
My Rays vs Red Sox best bet is over 9 total runs. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Rays vs Red Sox Odds
| Rays Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 +150 | 8.5 -110o / -110u | +115 |
| Red Sox Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -181 | 8.5 -110o / -110u | -137 |
- Rays vs Red Sox moneyline: Rays +115, Red Sox -137
- Rays vs Red Sox over/under: 8.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Rays vs Red Sox spread: Red Sox -1.5 (+150 ), Rays +1.5 (-181)
Rays vs Red Sox Probable Pitchers
| Jesse Scholtens | Stat | Connelly Early |
|---|---|---|
| 25-12 | W-L | 16-22 |
| 0.2 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.1 |
| 3.18 / 4.12 | ERA / xERA | 3.79 / 5.34 |
| 3.84 / 4.33 | FIP / xFIP | 4.90 / 4.72 |
| 11.7 | K-BB% | 9.3 |
| 42 | GB% | 40 |
| .269 | BABIP | .263 |
| 91 | Stuff+ | 102 |
| 107 | Location+ | 96a |
Rays vs Red Sox MLB Betting Preview
Editor's Note: This written article is a transcription from the latest episode of the Payoff Pitch podcast.
You're getting Jesse Scholtens with an opener in front of him. The Rays have been very careful not to let him see the top of lineups at the start of games. He does give up a lot of hard contact and has a 5.3 expected ERA, but the bigger issue is the bullpen behind him.
That’s the reason they’re not using an opener today. I have Garrett Cleavinger, Bryan Baker, Cole Sulser, Kevin Kelly and Hunter Bigge all marked as either tired or fatigued. The Rays had to throw a bullpen game yesterday, and earlier in the week they went to extra innings multiple times. They’ve had to use their bullpen very aggressively, so that group is pretty washed for tonight.
On the Red Sox side, I also have Ryan Watson and Greg Weissert marked as fatigued. So, unless these starters — Connelly Early and Jesse Scholtens — are able to go deep and hand it off to the few rested relievers in either bullpen, this game could get messy late.
Early has also been terrible this season and is giving up a lot of hard contact.
Rays vs Red Sox Pick, Betting Analysis
This is largely a tired bullpens over.
I make this total 9.25 and would bet the over up to 9 at even money.
Pick: Over 9 (+100 or Better, FanDuel)
