MLB Series Odds July 30: Rays vs Red Sox, Cubs vs Cardinals & More

• The Tampa Bay Rays hold a slender half-game lead over Boston going into this week’s three-game set at Fenway Park
• The St. Louis Cardinals have climbed to the top of the NL Central standings during a steady 12-4 run
• The Cubs remain deadlocked with St. Louis atop the NL Central, but have struggled on the road, losing 20 of 28 since Memorial Day

Divisional action heats up with a pair of matchups with potential postseason implications. The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals find themselves deadlocked atop the NL Central standings as they open a three-game series at New Busch Stadium, while the Tampa Bay Rays aim to preserve their slender grasp on second place in the AL East as they take on the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

We have odds for each of these new series as well as every other series kicking off on Tuesday.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox Series Prices

*All odds taken on 07/30/19

Red Sox Look to Reverse Shaky Home Record Against Rays

Second place in the AL East standings, and a possible AL wild card berth, will be on the line when the Boston Red Sox open a three-game series with the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.

The Red Sox sit just a half-game back of Tampa Bay after taking three of four from the New York Yankees over the weekend. Boston piled up 11 runs per game against the Yankees, continuing an impressive offensive display that has generated 7.1 runs per game and a 15-8 record in the month of July.

The Red Sox are averaging 7.40 runs per game against the Yankees in 10 games this season and are currently riding a six-game streak of scoring at least eight runs against them. pic.twitter.com/WEjEUQsmqy

— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) July 28, 2019

The Red Sox also look to have overcome their recent struggles on home turf, posting wins in six of their past eight at Fenway Park, all against AL East opponents. However, Boston has struggled in home dates with the Rays this season, falling to defeat in five of six meetings while scoring just two runs per game.

Rays vs Red Sox Probable Starting Pitchers

The Rays travel to Boston after opening their current six-game road trip by taking two of three from the Toronto Blue Jays. Tampa Bay hitters rebounded from their recent slump during their visit to Toronto, scoring 22 total runs, marking a dramatic improvement after tallying just 24 total runs during a 2-7 swoon.

Blue Jays' Hernandez caps huge comeback with walk-off homer – Teoscar Hernandez crushed his second home run of the game in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Toronto Blue Jays a wild 10-9 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
View… pic.twitter.com/TFIeGS1Q2c

— elementarty (@elementartyy) July 28, 2019

However, containing opposing hitters remains a concern for the Rays, who blew a 9-2 lead in Saturday’s 10-9 loss to the youthful Blue Jays. Tampa Bay has surrendered eight or more runs on five occasions over their past 12, including last week’s 9-4 home loss to Boston. Tampa Bay dropped two of three to the Red Sox in that series, but have enjoyed regular success on the road of late, going 6-4 in their past 10 and picking up wins in two of their past three series.

Pick: Red Sox (-190)

Chicago Cubs vs St. Louis Cardinals Prices

Cubs Visit Cardinals in Battle for First Place in the NL Central

The race heats up atop the NL Central division standings on Tuesday, when the St. Louis Cardinals open a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs. The St. Louis Cardinals have returned to postseason contention during a 12-4 run that leaves them deadlocked with the Cubs in first place in the NL Central. The Cardinals are coming off a pair of lopsided losses to the visiting Houston Astros, in which they were outscored by a wide 14-4 margin.

NL Standings East Central and West pic.twitter.com/YX4Ekq1VGG

— MLB Only Podcast (@only_mlb) July 29, 2019

St. Louis has otherwise turned in steady performances at New Busch Stadium, earning at least a split in six of the team’s past eight home series, including a three-game sweep of the Cubs to open the month of June. However, the Cardinals have struggled against the trio of Cubs pitchers they are expected to face this week. St. Louis is 0-10 in its past 10 when Kyle Hendricks has been on the mound, and 2-6 in its past eight when facing Jon Lester.

Cubs vs Cardinals Probable Starting Pitchers

The Cubs dropped two of three in Milwaukee over the weekend and take a 2-4 record on their current nine-game road trip into this week’s clash in St. Louis. That extends the club’s recent dismal performance away from Wrigley Field, where they have gone 8-20 since Memorial Day, posting consecutive victories just once and failing to tally a series victory during that stretch.

BREAKING NEWS: THE CHICAGO CUBS HAVE WON A ROAD DIVISION GAME ??? pic.twitter.com/Bb5W38qrKg

— Danny (@clutchbryant) July 28, 2019

Chicago hitters have also been quiet during the club’s road swoon, producing just 4.25 runs per game, a number that they have topped just once in their past seven outings with Sunday’s 11-4 victory over the Brewers.

Injuries also remain a concern for the Cubs. Starter Cole Hamels remains sidelined with an oblique injury, and reliever Xavier Cedeno has struggled while rehabbing a wrist injury, further complicating matters for the club which has posted just three victories in nine road dates with the archrival Cardinals since the start of the 2018 MLB season.

Pick: Cardinals (-145)

Additional MLB Series Odds