Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) vs. Boston Red Sox (1-0) MLB Picks: Last night, the Boston Red Sox got off to a perfect start, behind Josh Beckett's (1-0 in 7.0 IP, 1.29 ERA, 2 hits, 1 ER, 3 BB, and 10 SO) masterful pitching performance, taking the series opener against the defending American league east champion, Tampa Bay Rays.
Tonight, these American League East foes will play the middle game of the series, as two of the best young lefties in the game today square off: Jon Lester (16-6, 3.21 ERA in 2008) vs. Scott Kazmir (12-8, 3.49 ERA in 2008). 
According to oddsmaking MLB Picks experts at SportsBook.com, the Boston Red Sox [-1½, -145 M.L.] will once again be listed as the Sports Odds favorites to win the middle of this three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays [+1½, +135 M.L.], tonight.
Even though the Sox’s Opening Day win against the Rays will not immediately avenge last October's heartbreaking Game 7, ALCS Series loss, it’s certainly a good start.
"The way Beckett was throwing, he was phenomenal," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "That fastball that he was throwing front door to the lefties, it was coming back. He has the breaking ball. He was good all day." The OVER/UNDER set for tonight’s Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox has been set at a combined total of 8½ runs.
"It was good, it was big," said Beckett. "Pedey got me on the board in the first inning. I had a lot of adrenaline. If anything, it let me calm down a little bit with the home run. You go out there and don't really feel like you have to be that perfect in the second. It was one of those days where I had to control myself as far as adrenaline. When Pedey hit that home run, it helped me bring things down a little bit."
