While it’s not quite World Cup betting, there’s still a huge matchup to pay attention in the baseball world on Wednesday as a pair of American League East rivals will go at it in the finale of a three-game set in Florida. Tampa Bay will take on Boston, and their young (and newly minted) All-Star will take on a pitcher 19 years his senior.
Red Sox Rays Betting – Wednesday, July 7, 7:10 PM ET
43-year-old Tim Wakefield (3-6, 4.96) went eight strong innings in his last outing, allowing a pair of runs on seven hits to lead the Red Sox to a 3-2 win over Baltimore. Wakefield struck out four and walked one to win his third game of the season, but he also was taken deep for the seventh straight start. NFL betting players would compare Wakefield to Drew Bledsoe late in his career: he’s capable of giving you brilliance, but it’s more likely that it won’t end well, and that’s bound to happen when you pitch into your 40s. Wakefield has faced the Rays 42 times in his career, starting 32 of those games, and he has a 20-5 mark with three saves and an ERA of 3.45. However, in the last three years (since Tampa Bay has been relevant), the knuckleballer is 5-3 in 10 starts with a 5.01 ERA, and he’s 3-3 with a 4.70 ERA at Tropicana Field.
24-year-old Davis Price (11-4, 2.42) is showing everyone why he was the first pick in the 2007 draft, and NCAA football betting players could compare this to a player that had loads of promise as a freshman, but was brought along slowly and is proving himself. He was a bit wild in a 2-1 loss in Minnesota in his last outing, giving up a pair of runs on four hits over eight innings, striking out six and walking four. Price is still a bit wild when it comes to his command as he’s ninth in the American League in walks, but that’s something he’ll harness in the future. Price is 1-1 in two career starts against the Red Sox, but they’re going to have a tough time beating him at Tropicana Field, where he is 5-1 in seven starts with a 1.99 ERA so far this year.
The Rays should be favored at home, and they took the first game of this series 6-5 on Monday, coming back from a 5-1 deficit. Price would love to celebrate his All-Star berth with a victory, especially over a bitter rival that is trying to keep pace with them in the division. Wakefield hasn’t been consistent at all this year, even moreso than usual, and it appears as though the knuckleball is losing whatever steam it had.
Online betting pick: Tampa Bay