Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Rays

By Bush StaffUpdated 74d ago·2 min read
Boston Red SoxBOS(27-37)
Tampa Bay RaysTB(38-25)
34
FINAL
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BOS
001000020361
TB
000301004120

Payton Tolle (3-2, 2.28 ERA) gets the Game 2 nod after a six-inning shutout of the Orioles last week. Nick Martinez (5-2, 2.29) counters for Tampa, which sounds like a pitchers' duel until you remember Martinez just got rocked for 6 earned in 4 innings by Detroit his last time out — the start that ended an 11-outing streak of him allowing 2 or fewer.

Boston Red Sox
Payton Tolle
(3-5)·3.08 ERA
Jun 3 vs Orioles
W
6.0IP
0ER
5K
2BB
99P
06/09 Lineup
Tampa Bay Rays
Nick Martinez
(6-2)·2.73 ERA
Jun 3 vs Tigers
L
4.0IP
6ER
1K
1BB
58P
06/09 Lineup

Tolle is the most fun thing happening in Boston right now. The 6-foot-6 rookie has allowed 3 runs or fewer in 10 of his 11 career starts, and per the Globe he's the first Red Sox arm to open a season with 8-plus starts at that clip since Chris Sale in 2018. He's also striking guys out at a real clip — 11 K's in his season debut against the Yankees — and the extension off the mound makes the fastball play even bigger. Confidence in a Red Sox starter is a weird feeling lately. Lean into it.

Tampa is 38-25 and the better roster, but they were swept at home by the Tigers last week and just dropped 2 of 3 in Miami before grabbing Monday's opener 3-1. The book on Martinez right now is that the Detroit start might've been a blip — every other outing this year has been steady — but if Boston gets to him early like the Tigers did, the Rays bullpen is doing a lot of heavy lifting on a getaway day.

Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
(27-37)
Jun 8L@ Rays1-3
Jun 7L@ Yankees1-6
Jun 6P@ Yankees0-0
Jun 5W@ Yankees5-3
Jun 4Lvs Orioles2-8
Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
(38-25)
Jun 8Wvs Red Sox3-1
Jun 7L@ Marlins1-4
Jun 6L@ Marlins3-4
Jun 5W@ Marlins6-0
Jun 3Lvs Tigers2-7

The Red Sox infirmary is the more relevant story. Roman Anthony (finger) is still shut down from swinging, Trevor Story is post-op on a sports hernia, Triston Casas is just now close to swinging again, and the rotation is missing Crochet, Houck, Crawford, Sandoval and Oviedo. That's not a depth chart, that's a triage list. The one piece of good news: Garrett Whitlock (knee) is likely to be activated off the 15-day IL Tuesday, which would be a real bullpen reinforcement.

Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
(14)
  • Day-To-DayHobie Harris (RP)Harris was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.05/08
  • 10-Day-ILRoman Anthony (LF)Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Monday that Anthony (finger) remains shut down from swinging a bat, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.06/08
  • 10-Day-ILNick Sogard (3B)Sogard is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.06/03
  • 15-Day-ILGarrett Whitlock (RP)Whitlock (knee) is likely to be activated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, MLB.com reports.06/08
  • 15-Day-ILJovani Moran (RP)The Red Sox placed Moran on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to Friday, with left elbow inflammation, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.06/06
  • OutBrendan Rodgers (2B)Rodgers (shoulder) re-signed Friday with the Red Sox on a two-year, minor-league contract, Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILPatrick Sandoval (SP)Sandoval (biceps) will make his next rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, MLB.com reports.06/08
  • 60-Day-ILGarrett Crochet (SP)Crochet (shoulder) was diagnosed with a low-grade lat strain Tuesday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.06/05
  • 60-Day-ILTrevor Story (SS)Story underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia Thursday and will be sidelined 6-10 weeks, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.06/04
  • 60-Day-ILRomy Gonzalez (1B)Gonzalez (shoulder) took batting practice at Fenway Park on Wednesday, WEEI reports.06/03
  • 60-Day-ILKutter Crawford (SP)Interim manager Chad Tracy said Tuesday that Crawford (elbow) is dealing with moderate tightness in his right forearm, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.06/02
  • 60-Day-ILTriston Casas (1B)Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters Wednesday that Casas (abdomen/knee) is close to being cleared to swing a bat, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.05/27
  • 60-Day-ILTanner Houck (SP)Houck (elbow) has been making throws out to 105 feet three days per week, MLB.com reports.05/15
  • 60-Day-ILJohan Oviedo (SP)Oviedo (elbow) will be reevaluated by Dr. Keith Meister in two weeks to determine his progress, Marcos Grunfeld of ElEmergente.com reports.05/08
Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
(15)
  • Day-To-DayChandler Simpson (LF)Simpson (thumb) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.06/08
  • Day-To-DayAustin Vernon (RP)The Rays have shut Vernon down from throwing due to right elbow soreness, per MLB.com.05/08
  • Day-To-DayTre' Morgan (1B)Triple-A Durham placed Morgan on the 7-day injured list with a quad injury, Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline reports.05/08
  • Day-To-DayAlfredo Zarraga (RP)no05/08
  • 10-Day-ILJonny DeLuca (RF)DeLuca (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.06/08
  • 10-Day-ILJake Fraley (RF)Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that Fraley (hernia) will require surgery and will face a recovery timeline of 6-to-8 weeks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.05/18
  • 15-Day-ILCraig Kimbrel (RP)Kimbrel (wrist) will throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.06/08
  • 15-Day-ILJesse Scholtens (RP)Scholtens was charged with a blown save and dropped to 5-3 on the season in Monday's 9-7 loss to the Orioles in 13 innings after yielding five runs (three earned) on four hits across 1.1 frames. He struck out one batter.05/27
  • 60-Day-ILGavin Lux (LF)Lux (shoulder) is scheduled to take live batting practice against teammate Craig Kimbrel (wrist) on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.06/08
  • 60-Day-ILJonathan Heasley (RP)Heasley was returned to the major-league roster and placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right elbow stress reaction.06/08
  • 60-Day-ILManuel Rodriguez (RP)Rodriguez (elbow) has no timetable to progress to facing live hitters, MLB.com reports.05/30
  • 60-Day-ILSteven Wilson (RP)The Rays hope Wilson (back) will be able to start bullpen sessions June 8, MLB.com reports.05/30
  • 60-Day-ILEdwin Uceta (RP)Manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Uceta (shoulder) suffered a setback and received a PRP injection, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.05/29
  • 60-Day-ILMichael Grove (RP)Grove (shoulder) started a rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League Rays on Saturday.05/28
  • 60-Day-ILRyan Pepiot (SP)Pepiot will undergo surgery on his right hip May 13 and miss the rest of the 2026 season, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.05/08

Pinnacle has this one as close to a coin flip as you'll see — Rays -110, Red Sox -100, total at 7.5 with the under juiced to -120. That tracks with two sub-2.30 ERAs on the mound and a Boston lineup that scored a combined 4 runs across its last 3 games. If you trust Tolle's profile more than Martinez's last outing, the dog price is right there. If you trust the Rays at home, you've been rewarded all year.

MLBBoston Red SoxTampa Bay RaysPolymarketKalshiPayton TolleNick Martinez