MLB Playoff Betting - Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox Game 4

The Tampa Bay Rays moved within two steps of the World Series when they knocked off the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 of the ALCS on Monday afternoon, 9-1. For the second straight game in the series, Tampa Bay played long ball, as four different Rays knocked the ball out of Fenway Park. All nine in the starting lineup recorded at least one base hit.

RHP Matt Garza was fantastic in the victory, only allowing one run and scattering six hits over six innings. JP Howell and Edwin Jackson combined to pitch three scoreless frames to close out the game. Jon Lester was knocked around early, giving up five runs in just 5.2 innings.

It was a massive victory for Rays bettors, as they were +172 underdogs per the closing MLB betting line and are now 5-2, netting 2.70 units so far in the playoffs. Boston dropped to 4-3, but is still up a bit over a unit for its baseball bettors. After both teams opened up the postseason with five consecutive ‘under’ games, the last two games in this series have gone ‘over’ the ‘total’.

RHP Andy Sonnanstine will get the ball from manager Joe Maddon in Game 4 of the ALCS. After going just 6-10 in his rookie season with a 5.85 ERA, the righty was strong this season, going 13-9 with a 4.38 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 32 starts. The Rays went 20-12 in those outings, and baseball bettors earned $922 this year, the 16th best mark in the bigs.

In his first career postseason outing against the White Sox, “Sonny” tossed 5.2 innings giving up just three hits and a walk while surrendering a pair of solo homers. He’s had mixed results against the BoSox in his six career starts, going 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.26 WHIP.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona is scheduled to send his veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to the bump for Game 4. Wakefield started 30 games in 2008, going 10-11 with a 4.13 ERA.

He’s had a problem with the long ball though, giving up a dinger once every 7.24 innings. That could be bad news against the Rays, who have blasted seven “big-flys” in the last two games of the series.

Wakefield has been sparkling against Tampa Bay in his career, going 19-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 41 appearances. Boston bettors only went 15-15 in the righty’s 30 outings, losing just under a unit on the year.

After the Rays made the oddsmakers look foolish on Monday, they’ve adjusted the line a bit more and made Boston slightly smaller –165 home chalks. MLB bettors have responded even more, pushing that line down to its current position of -145. The ‘total’ is set 9 over -115.