Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox Picks and Prediction for Saturday, May 9, 2026
Use Code WWWC The Tampa Bay Rays visit the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday at 4:10 PM ET on MLB.TV. Tampa Bay is 25-12 and second in the AL East, while Boston is 16-22 and fifth in the division. The Rays beat the Red Sox 8-4 in their most recent game and have now won seven straight, while Boston had its three-game winning streak snapped in that loss. Find value with our free MLB picks.
Rays Continuing Strong Stretch Behind Balanced Production
Tampa Bay is coming off an 8-4 win over Boston and has won seven consecutive games. During the streak, the Rays swept Toronto and followed with a strong offensive showing in the series opener at Fenway Park. Tampa Bay has scored at least four runs in six of those seven victories and continues to play consistently.
The Rays are hitting .257 with a .330 on-base percentage and .379 slugging percentage, producing 167 runs on 319 hits. Yandy Diaz leads the lineup with a .323 batting average and .401 OBP, while Junior Caminero has hit 10 home runs with 18 RBI. Jonathan Aranda has added seven home runs and 29 RBI, and Chandler Simpson is batting .313 with 45 hits and 12 stolen bases. Tampa Bay has also totaled 83 extra-base hits and continues to generate offense through contact hitting and aggressive baserunning.
Pitching has been a major reason for Tampa Bay’s success. The Rays enter with a 3.54 ERA and 1.17 WHIP while holding opponents to a .221 batting average. The staff has issued only 116 walks through 37 games while recording 287 strikeouts. Tampa Bay has also limited opponents to 38 home runs, helping the team consistently control scoring opportunities throughout games.
Get Free $30 Credit for Premium Picks + Exclusive Discounts
Subscribe Now
Injuries: Gavin Lux, 10-Day IL, Mason Englert, 15-Day IL, Tre’ Morgan, 7-Day IL, Keyshawn Askew, 7-Day IL, Austin Vernon, 7-Day IL
Red Sox Looking for More Consistency At The Plate
Boston is coming off an 8-4 loss to Tampa Bay after winning three straight games against Detroit. The Red Sox had allowed only seven total runs during that winning streak before struggling to contain the Rays' lineup in the series opener.
Boston is hitting .237 with a .315 on-base percentage and .353 slugging percentage, producing 153 runs on 302 hits. Wilyer Abreu has been the team’s most productive hitter with a .300 average, five home runs, and a .377 OBP. Willson Contreras leads Boston with eight home runs and 23 RBI, while Ceddanne Rafaela is batting .270. Trevor Story has struggled offensively with a .204 average and 49 strikeouts, contributing to the team’s inconsistent production at the plate.
The Red Sox have been solid on the mound overall. Boston carries a 4.11 ERA and 1.32 WHIP while allowing a .247 opponent batting average. The pitching staff has recorded 301 strikeouts and issued 128 walks through 38 games. However, Boston has allowed 46 home runs this season, which has created problems against lineups capable of generating power consistently.
Injuries: Justin Slaten, 15-Day IL, Ranger Suarez, Day-To-Day, Garrett Crochet, 15-Day IL, Kutter Crawford, 15-Day IL, Roman Anthony, 10-Day IL
Pitching Matchup
Tampa Bay Rays – Nick Martinez
Martinez is 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 42.0 innings. The right-hander has allowed 33 hits with 28 strikeouts and only 10 walks while giving up three home runs. In his last three starts, Martinez has allowed only two earned runs across 20 innings combined.
Boston Red Sox – Undecided
Boston had not announced a starting pitcher at the time this preview was written.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox Spread Pick
The Tampa Bay Rays will win based on recent form, stronger pitching numbers, and better consistency up and down the lineup. Tampa Bay continues to create offense throughout the order while also limiting baserunners effectively on the mound. Boston has shown solid offensive play at times, but has struggled against stronger pitching staffs. With Martinez in excellent form and the Rays carrying momentum into this matchup, Tampa Bay is in a favorable position to win.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox Over/Under Pick
This matchup will cash under because Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has consistently limited scoring opportunities during the current winning streak. Martinez has been one of the more reliable starters in the American League, and Boston’s production at the plate has been inconsistent overall despite recent wins. If the Rays control the game early on the mound, scoring could stay lower than expected.
Never Tried Winners and Whiners? Now Is Your Chance
- Get your first daily picks package for ONLY $1 using coupon code DOLLAR
- If the pick loses, we credit your account with 3 Flex Picks
- If the pick wins, we still give you 1 Flex Pick on the house
- Win or lose, you walk away ahead. One dollar. No catch.
- Check out more MLB predictions
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
