Boston at Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Rays will continue their quest for a first-ever World Series appearance tonight against the Boston Red Sox who have won two of the last four. They will send Jamie Shields to the hill for game one. Shields has pitched the Rays to a 15-3 mark in his 18 home starts (2.59 ERA). The Red Sox counter with Dice-K Matsuzaka who had a big year, but has faltered in the postseason with a 5+ ERA. That poor pitching continued against the Angels where he left the game with a 5.40 ERA. The Rays have not only been the best home team in baseball this season, they have been money against the best teams. They have a 37-13 mark at home over teams with a .500 or better record and have taken nine of the last 10 here over the Red Sox. The Sox have not fared well on the road against the better teams where they have been a poor 18-28 on the season against teams .500 or better. We are backing the Rays to come out ahead in game one tonight.