**Devil Rays at Red Sox**

--Most sports books are listing Boston (11-4, +564) as a minus 175 'chalk' with a total of 9 1/2 'under' (minus 115). Bettors can avoid the expensive straight price backing the Red Sox on the run line (minus 1 1/2 runs) for a plus-120 payoff.

--Tampa Bay (7-8, +130) is looking to avoid a three-game sweep at Fenway Park after dropping a 9-1 decision Wednesday. Curt Schilling continued his stellar work by shutting down the Devil Rays, who fell to last place in the American League East. They trail division-leading Boston by four games.

--Terry Francona will give the starting nod to Tim Wakefield (1-2, 4.34 ERA), who dominates the Devil Rays. Sure, lots of pitchers have their way against the moribund franchise, but the knuckleballer is especially dirty against Tampa Bay. Wakefield is 13-1 with a 2.96 lifetime ERA versus the Rays.

--Scott Kazmir (1-1, 4.82) has compiled a 2-1 record and 2.79 career ERA against Boston. The lefty has enjoyed success against the Red Sox's big bats, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. Ortiz is 3-for-14 (.214) against Kazmir with no extra-base hits, while Ramirez is 2-for-17 (.118) with one homer.

--The 'over' is 10-5 overall for the D-Rays, 6-2 in their road games.

--The 'over' has hit in three straight games for the Red Sox, who have watched the 'over' go 5-4 in their home outings.

--ESPN2 will have the first pitch at 7:05 p.m. Eastern.



**Mets at Padres**

--Most spots are listing San Diego (6-8, -300) as a minus 140 favorite with a total of seven 'over' (minus 120). The Padres are plus 160 on the run line (minus 1 1/2 runs).

--New York (10-4, +459) heads to the West coast after losing two of three to the Braves at Shea Stadium. The Mets won the series opener behind an excellent outing from Pedro Martinez, but their bats went cold against Kyle Davies and Tim Hudson.

--The Mets were just what the doctor ordered for Hudson, who improved to 4-0 in five career starts against Atlanta's NL East whipping post from Flushing. The Braves cashed tickets for a plus-125 payoff with Hudson going the distance, getting support from Andruw Jones' fourth homer of the three-game set.

--Jake Peavy (1-2, 5.50) will take the ball for the Padres, who are tied for last place in the NL West with Arizona, but just 2 1/2 games back of San Francisco. Peavy is 3-1 with a 3.55 ERA in six career assignments versus New York.

--Steve Trachsel (1-1, 4.09) has a 6-8 record and 5.51 lifetime ERA against the Padres.

--Despite back-to-back losses, Willie Randolph's team maintains a three-game lead over the Braves in the NL East.

--Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca is only 4-for-22 (.222) with zero extra-base hits against Peavy.

--San Diego third baseman Vinny Castilla has always feasted on Trachsel, belting 17 hits in 49 at-bats for a .347 batting average. Castilla has homered five times off the veteran right-hander, in addition to four doubles and one triple.