BOSTON (Interstat) — The Tampa Bay Rays, owners of the best record in the American League, continue their three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Friday at 7:10 p.m. at Fenway Park.

The forecast calls for clear skies and 57 degrees at first pitch.

Left-hander Connelly Early (2-2, 4.50 ERA) is slated to start for Tampa Bay (24-12). He will be opposed by Boston right-hander Sonny Gray (2-1).

The Rays enter Friday having won seven of their last eight games, including a 6-3 victory over the Red Sox on Thursday. That win improved Tampa Bay’s division lead after a three-game sweep of Toronto earlier in the week.

Boston (16-21) has dropped three of its last four games overall, but the Red Sox are coming off a 4-0 shutout victory at Detroit on Wednesday. Gray pitched five scoreless innings in that win, allowing four hits with two strikeouts.

Players to watch

Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan has been dominant in his recent outings. Over his last four starts, he has posted a 0.00 ERA, including a win against the Blue Jays on Wednesday in which he threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings. He is not scheduled to pitch Friday but remains a key figure in a Tampa Bay rotation that has allowed two or fewer runs in six straight games.

Gray has been effective when healthy. In his last start, he worked five scoreless innings. However, he lasted just four innings in an April 14 loss at Minnesota, when he allowed five earned runs.

Head to head

Tampa Bay has won the first two meetings of 2026 between the clubs, both at Fenway Park. The Rays have outscored Boston 12-6 in the series.

Odds and projections

Boston is a minus-1.5 run-line favorite, according to Interstat. The over/under is 8.5 runs. Interstat’s game simulator projects an 8-6 victory for Tampa Bay.

Up next

The teams conclude the series Saturday and Sunday before Tampa Bay travels to Toronto for three games and Boston opens a six-game homestand against Philadelphia.