Ala Hann Sport picks

If you’re an NFL betting player waiting for the regular season to start, the race for the American League wild card should be enough to tide you over. Tampa Bay goes into their series with Boston trailing the Red Sox by five games, and they’ve won five of six so far this season against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field.

Tuesday, September 1, 7:08 PM ET – Jon Lester (10-7, 3.60) vs Andy Sonnastine (6-7, 6.61)

Lester has struggled badly against the Rays this year, going 0-2 in three starts with an 8.22 ERA, and he has an ERA of 5.00 in three career starts at Tropicana Field. Sonnastine gets his callup because of Scott Kazmir’s trade to the Los Angeles Angels, and strangely in an inconsistent season, one of his best outings came against the Red Sox when he scattered a pair of runs on six hits in 5.2 innings in a 6-2 victory, albeit with four walks and a single strikeout. Sonnastine is also 5-0 in six appearances at Tropicana this year, but the Rays are still a +138 online betting underdog at home. We don’t have any faith in Sonnastine, either.

MLB betting pick: Boston

Wednesday, September 2, 7:08 PM ET – Josh Beckett (14-5, 3.80) vs Matt Garza (7-9, 3.95)

Beckett has a 1-0 record in three starts against the Rays this year, but he also comes with a 5.60 ERA. He’s never fared that well at Tropicana, posting a 1-3 mark in five starts with a 3.58 ERA. Garza has been almost lights-out against the Red Sox in 2009, going 2-0 in four starts with a 1.88 ERA, boosting his career record to 5-1 in 10 starts against Boston with a 2.93 ERA. He did give up six runs in five innings in his last start, but given his numbers while facing the Rays’ AL East foes, your gambling software should give Garza the benefit of the doubt.

MLB betting pick: Tampa Bay

Thursday, September 3, 7:08 PM ET – Clay Buchholz (3-3, 4.38) vs David Price (7-6, 4.63)

This is a meeting of two of the more highly-touted young pitchers in the game, and they’ve been thrown right into the fire. Buchholz has split both of his starts against the Rays in his career, posting a 2.03 ERA, and he’s won his last two decisions. However, the edge in these MLB picks has to go to Price, who has a 6-2 mark in nine starts at Tropicana this season. He gave up a pair of runs on six hits over six innings of a 6-4 win over the Red Sox a month ago, and facing another young prospect should get him fired up, so place your sports bet online pick with Tampa Bay.

MLB betting pick: Tampa Bay