Tampa Bay Rays (1-1) vs. Boston Red Sox (1-1) Baseball Predictions: Knotted at 1-1, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox will play the rubber game of their 2009 opening series this afternoon beginning at 1:35 PM ET (10 AM PT) on NESN.
Last night, the Rays were able to even out the series at 1 game apiece behind a solid pitching performance from LHP Scott Kazmir (6.0 IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, 0 HR, 1.50 ERA), who defeated one of the best lefties in the game today, Jon Lester (0-1, 5.0 IP, 8 hits, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR, 9.00 ERA). 
Today, we have another terrific pitching matchup, as Japan’s finest RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka, (18-3, 2.90 ERA in 2008) takes on the Rays; stud, RHP Matt Garza (11-9, 3.70 ERA in 2008).
According to odds-making Baseball Predictions experts at SBGglobal.com, the Boston Red Sox [-136 M.L.] have been listed as the Sports Odds favorites to win this series versus the visiting Tampa Bay Rays [+146 M.L.] this afternoon.
With ALCS game 7 memories still fresh in the minds’ of Red Sox Nation, Bostonians will certainly want blood this afternoon. Last October, Garza ended any World Series dreams the Sox might have had, pitching the best game of his life. With home field advantage in game 7, Garza silenced the Boston bats to the tune of 3 hits, 1 run, and 9 strikeouts in seven innings, as the Rays eliminated the Sox, 3-1 in the series finale and moved on to the Fall Classic. The OVER/UNDER set for this, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox has been set at a combined 8½ runs total.
"I think he was much more consistent hitting his spots and executing his game plan last year," Mike Lowell said of Garza. "Even when he was with Minnesota, you saw he had talent. It was more putting it together and being consistent with how you want to approach hitters, and I think he did a much better job with that last year. He throws hard, he's got good stuff. It's no picnic when he's on the mound, especially when he's hitting his spots."
