AP Sports Preview

Red Sox at Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Interstat) — The Boston Red Sox visit the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at George Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. under partly cloudy skies with temperatures near 90 degrees.

Boston (27-36) trails Tampa Bay (37-25) by 10 1/2 games in the American League East standings. The Rays took the series opener Monday, a 2-1 victory, and have won three of four meetings this season.

The Red Sox are expected to start either left-hander Payton Tolle (3-2) or right-hander Nick Martinez (5-2). Tampa Bay is expected to counter with right-hander Griffin Jax (0-1, 4.50 ERA in five appearances).

Ranger Suarez, a pitcher to watch for Boston, is coming off a strong outing Sunday at Yankee Stadium: 6 1/3 innings, six hits, one earned run, six strikeouts in a 6-1 loss. Over his past five starts, Suarez has a 2-2 record with a 3.46 ERA.

For Tampa Bay, Jax delivered his best start of the season on Sunday at Miami: five innings, three hits, no earned runs, four strikeouts in a 4-1 loss. He has allowed just one earned run over his past two outings covering seven innings.

The Red Sox dropped Sunday’s series finale 6-1 at the New York Yankees, their third loss in four games. First baseman Willson Contreras drove in the lone run with a single.

The Rays fell 4-1 at Miami on Sunday, their fifth loss in six games. Relievers Cole Sulser and Garrett Cleavinger combined for two innings.

Boston has lost 10 of its past 14 games. Tampa Bay has dropped nine of 11.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-3 Red Sox victory.

After Tuesday’s game, the teams conclude the series Wednesday. Boston returns home to host Texas on Friday. Tampa Bay begins a three-game series at the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.