The other half of the 2021 American League Divisional Series is set, as the Boston Red Sox advanced from the one-off AL Wild Card Game against their arch nemesis, the New York Yankees. Now comes a tougher task at hand for the Red Sox, who’ll face the AL’s winningest team of the season in the Tampa Bay Rays, who are set to host the first game of the best-of-five set in St. Petersburg this Thursday night.

Nitrobetting is here to deliver the latest Major League Baseball news and coverage from the 2021 MLB playoffs and beyond. This time, let’s take a look at the opening bout between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the ALDS. Be on top of all the developments during the playoffs by tuning in MLB odds, previews, and predictions for all the exciting postseason baseball action ahead. Be sure to check out for our Baseball betting odds and daily sports betting odds and lines at our online Bitcoin sportsbook!

Red Sox vs. Rays 2021 MLB ALDS Game 1 Information

THE ALDS IS SET ?

The Rays will face the Red Sox ? pic.twitter.com/SKpBq4Zfk6

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 6, 2021

• When: Thursday, October 7, 2021, 8:07 PM ET
• Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
• TV: FS1, FS1-INT
• Radio: WEEI 93.7 (Red Sox) // WDAE, 95.3 FM (Rays)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Odds: Red Sox (TBA) / Rays (TBA)

READ MORE: Dodgers vs. Giants 2021 MLB NLDS Game 1 Odds, Preview, and Prediction

Why bet on the Boston Red Sox?

Against all odds, the Boston Red Sox are rolling in October after finishing at the basement of the AL East standings the previous season. The Red Sox are on a four-game win streak heading into the ALDS, capped off with an amazing 6-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Tuesday’s AL Wild Card Game.

Boston’s pitching has been phenomenal during this four-game stretch, allowing just an average of three runs per game. Even better is that the boys from Beantown have now won nine of their last 10 postseason games. Alex Cora also improved to 12-3 in the playoffs as a manager, with his leadership playing a key role in Boston’s turnaround 2021 campaign.

The Sox are counting on the likes of standouts Xander Bogaerts and Alex Verdugo to deliver on offense again. The two combined for five RBIs in the ALWC Game, as Boston’s top slugger J.D. Martinez remained on the sidelines due to an ankle injury.

Why bet on the Seattle Mariners?

For the second consecutive year, the Tampa Bay Rays are winners of the AL East and finished the 2021 regular season as the only team in the American League with 100 wins. Tampa Bay won seven of its last 10 regular-season games, meaning they also have relative momentum heading into the postseason.

Manager Kevin Cash is extremely confident in his team’s well-rounded ability to counter what Boston has in store. So much so that Cash opted to have rookie lefty Shane McLanahan (10-6, 3.43 ERA) take the mound in Game 1.

McLanahan has not allowed more than one earned run in each of his last four starts whilst striking out 16 batters in 18 innings of work. Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe also looks to have another huge day at the plate in Thursday’s series opener. Lowe had three homers and seven RBIs in the penultimate game of the regular season against the Yankees.

Red Sox vs. Rays MLB Betting Trends

• As mentioned earlier, the Red Sox are 9-1 in their last 10 postseason games. Their last defeat was in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series versus the Dodgers.
• The Sox won six of their last eight regular-season games on the road.
• The run totals have gone under in five of Boston’s last six road games.
• The Rays are just 3-2 in their last five playoff games at home, but went 8-4 at Tropicana Field throughout the 2020 postseason.
• The Rays won four straight and five of their last six regular-season home games.
• The totals have gone under in six of Tampa Bay’s last eight home games.

Red Sox vs. Rays Series Betting Prediction

One could make a solid case for either Boston or Tampa Bay to draw first blood in the series opener. The Red Sox went 8-11 against the Rays this season, proving themselves to be a worthy first-round opponent for the American League leaders. On the other hand, the Rays have had an extra day to rest and prepare for this matchup as well. All things considered, Game 1 of this spectacular AL Divisional Series is as unpredictable as it gets.

READ MORE: 2021 World Series Odds Update (Oct. 2021)

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