Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, 9/18/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays

Date: Friday, September 18, 2026

Location: Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL

TV: MLB.TV

Odds/Point Spread: Boston (-160) Tampa Bay (+132)

Tropicana Field is the location where the Tampa Bay Rays (92-59) will attempt to defeat the Boston Red Sox (82-70) on Friday. The odds on this game have the Red Sox at -160 while the Rays are priced at +132. The total has been set at 8.5. The pitchers taking the mound are Ranger Suarez and Ian Seymour.

The Red Sox have hit 271 doubles as a team and have hit 157 baseballs out of the park. Boston has a slugging rate of .402 and have been called out on strikes 1,236 times, while being walked on 486 occasions. As a squad, the Boston Red Sox are notching 4.4 runs per outing, which puts them at 19th in baseball. They have accrued 638 runs batted in and 1,258 hits so far this season, and their average at the plate is .247. They have notched a total of 668 runs and hold an OBP of .321.

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They have earned a K/BB ratio of 3.01 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.24. Red Sox pitchers have allowed 147 home runs and 586 runs in total (3rd in the league). Boston has allowed 1,238 base hits (8.2 per 9 innings) and 542 earned runs. The Red Sox have an earned run average of 3.61 for the year (3rd in MLB), and the staff has rung up 1,317 batters. They have walked 438 opposing players and their FIP sits at 3.67 as a team on the year.

The Red Sox have dispatched 464 relief pitchers to the mound on the season. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 158 runners over the course of the season and 29.7% of those runners crossing the plate. The relief pitchers have notched 89 holds so far this season (9th in the league). Red Sox bullpen pitchers have entered the contest with runners on 119 times in addition to having 139 appearances in high leverage situations. They have earned 42 saves so far this year and have blown 14 of their 56 save opportunities. The Red Sox relievers have recorded a save percentage of 75.0% and stepped onto the hill in 147 save situations.

The Red Sox have transformed 69.2% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 12,162 innings on the diamond, ranking them 23rd in MLB. The Boston Red Sox have earned 4,054 putouts on the campaign, as well as 1,321 assists and 77 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .986 which puts them in 14th in MLB, and have 115 double plays.

Suarez has pitched in 899 innings and has accounted for 835 strikeouts during his career. Suarez (60-41 career win-loss mark) has a FIP of 3.32 while he has faced 3,766 opposing batters during his time in the major leagues. His ERA is 3.37 (337 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.259. He has allowed 852 hits (8.5 hits per nine innings) with 280 walks.

The Rays hold a slugging % of .407 and they score 4.56 runs per game (10th in the league). They have 211 two-baggers, while taking a walk 475 times and scoring 688 runs. Tampa Bay has knocked in 162 home runs over the course of the season and 654 RBIs. They have struck out on 1,047 occasions (30th in baseball) and have a total of 1,321 base hits. The Tampa Bay Rays are sitting with an on-base percentage of .328 in addition to a team batting average of .260 over the course of the season.

The Rays hold a team WHIP of 1.137 in addition to having a FIP of 4.04 as a staff on the season. They come in at 4th in MLB as a staff in total hits surrendered with 1,157. The Tampa Bay pitching staff have given up 617 runs for the season and come in with a team ERA of 3.75 (562 earned runs conceded). Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 8.20 (1,224 strikeouts against 376 bases on balls). They have given up 188 home runs and they allow 4.12 runs per 9 innings (7th in baseball).

Tampa Bay bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 33.3% of 180 inherited runners. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill 155 times in high leverage situations and also on 126 occasions with runners on. With 187 save situations, the Rays have earned 110 holds in addition to 19 blown saves. They are ranked 4th in the league holding a save percentage of 75.0%, and they have sent 481 relief pitchers to the hill this season.

In their 12,132 innings played, the Rays have a defensive efficiency of 72.3% (1st in MLB). The Tampa Bay Rays have turned 95 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .984 (21st in baseball). The Rays have accrued 1,192 assists, 87 errors and have a tally of 4,044 putouts during this campaign.

Seymour (13-9 win-loss mark in his career) has earned a 4.07 ERA while surrendering 7.7 hits per 9 innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 4.04 and he has gone up against 751 batters so far in his MLB career. He has given up a total of 81 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.156 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.0. So far in his pro baseball career, Seymour has surrendered 154 base hits and he has 214 K's in 179 innings pitched.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Boston (-160)

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