Tampa Bay at Boston

The AL East race gets the top two teams squaring off at Fenway tonight when the Tampa Bay Rays invade Boston. The Sox have cut the Rays margin to 1.5 games, and tonight becomes a pivotal game. Jon Lester has pitched well all year until lately. One factor in his lackluster 5.79 ERA over his last three starts could certainly be fatigue. Lester beat cancer which limited him to less innings pitched in the last two seasons to the 182 he has logged already this season. After going 16-6 in his first 22 starts, the Sox are now 3-3 in his last six where his ERA has been 4.84. Meanwhile, Edwin Jackson has pitched very well over his past 13 starts logging a 3.26 ERA. The Rays still are getting disrespect from the odds makers, so there is value on this inflated line. I'll back the Rays as a huge dog in this one.