Tampa Bay at Boston

It helps to be a strikeout pitcher in a small park like Fenway. Tampa Bay has an excellent strikeout artist on the mound in Chris Archer, fanning 23 in 15+ innings. The Rays are 7-3 when Archer is on the road against a team with a losing record. These teams come off an extra inning game last night won by the Rays, 3-0, and the home team is in a difficult pitching spot. The Rays got plenty out of their starter as Drew Smyly struck out 11 and yielded one hit in eight innings, as the staff has allowed a total of four runs during a three-game winning streak. Boston had to go to its bullpen in the first inning, so the relief staff got worn out. That puts more pressure on starter Rick Porcello (5.11 ERA), who is not very good and has a 4.50 ERA at Fenway the last three+ years. The Red Sox have a losing record overall, as well as at home, and the team is on a 4-10 run on natural grass. Back Tampa Bay.