Rays vs. Red Sox: Boston Returns Home After Disastrous 6-Game Road Trip

The Boston Red Sox (1-5) and Tampa Bay Rays (4-2) will open up a four-game American League East series on Friday afternoon inside Fenway Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m. ET.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Red Sox as -120 favorites in their home-opener, while the total is sitting at 8.5.

It's certainly not time for Boston fans to panic under first-year manager Bobby Valentine, but last year's 0-6 start will have plenty of Red Sox Nation sitting on the edge of their seats. The team's 0-4 daytime record is definitely cause for concern.

Josh Beckett (0-1, 13.50 ERA) is scheduled to start the club's home-opener for the fifth time in seven seasons, coming off a forgettable 10-0 road loss to the Detroit Tigers on April 7. He was roughed up for seven runs on seven hits in just 4.2 innings of work, while also matching a career-high allowance of five home runs.

The power right-hander is 9-4 with a 2.94 ERA in 19 career starts versus the Rays, including a perfect 2-0 mark and 0.78 ERA in three outings in 2011.

Bettors will find that the Red Sox are 27-10 in Beckett's last 37 starts as a home favorite, while the "under" is 5-2 in the last seven games in that situation.

Tampa Bay dropped two of three games in its recent road series against Detroit, which included a 7-2 setback on Thursday.

Offensively, the Rays are led by the play of third baseman Evan Longoria, who comes in with a .476 batting average and has had great success against Friday's opposing pitcher. Longoria has collected 12 hits in 37 (.324) career at-bats against Beckett.

David Price (1-0, 2.84 ERA) is coming off an 8-6 home victory over the New York Yankees on April 7, allowing just two runs and five hits over 6.1 innings. He was a bit wild in the contest, issuing four walks, but he also tallied five strikeouts.

The left-hander brings in a solid 6-3 record and 3.16 ERA in 10 career starts versus the Red Sox. He's limited the damage in surrendering 10 home runs in 62.2 combined innings.

Price hasn't been bothered by the surroundings of Fenway Park in four outings, posting a perfect 3-0 record and 1.75 ERA. The Rays are still 0-4 in his last four starts as a road underdog of +110 to +150.

Weather forecasts are calling for sunny skies and game-time temperatures in the mid-50s, while a 5-10 mph breeze out of the northwest is expected throughout the game (right to left).