Boston Red Sox: Why They Will Win Home Opener Against the Tampa Bay Rays

After a long six-game road trip, the Boston Red Sox are ready for some home cooking at Fenway to get back into the top of the standings in the AL East.

The Tampa Bay Rays come to town and the first game starts at 2:10 p.m ET. The starters are David Price and Josh Beckett and Red Sox Nation is ready for a series win. All the Sox have to do is win.

They have the offense to get the job done, but can the pitchers keep the Rays off the bases? There is no doubt that they can, but will it be enough?

Josh Beckett Dominated the Rays in 2011

Josh Beckett really handed it to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011. He was 2-0 with a 0.78 ERA in three starts and just had masterful performances.

Sure, the Rays have a more powerful lineup in 2012, but Beckett should still feel good about himself when he faces a team that struggled against him last year.

Beckett Needs to Bounce Back

Josh Beckett was a train wreck in his first start against the Detroit Tigers last week. He allowed five home runs and seven earned runs in his outing and could not find a groove the entire game.

Sure, it is really hard to face Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder back-to-back, but Beckett still has the stuff to get the job done on the mound.

Yes, he may be hotheaded and want to throw his fastball all the time, but he still has the potential to throw a shutout every time he his on the mound.

The Sox need him to step it up this year as they try to make the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

Offense Needs Fenway

The Boston Red Sox have only scored more than four runs once in 2012 and that was a 13-12 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, April 8. A return to Fenway Park will be great for the entire Red Sox offense, especially guys like Jacoby Ellsbury and Cody Ross.

Ross had a great spring training at Fenway South and hit multiple home runs over the Green Monster down in Florida. He can do the same thing at the Fenway in Boston after struggling to hit anything in the six road games.

A Win Would Stop the Talking (For Now)

The Boston Red Sox do not need to win this game to make the 2012 playoffs, but it would be a great momentum and confidence booster to get their first win at Fenway out of the way early.

A win against the Rays would stop all the "same team as last September" talk and maybe Red Sox Nation might actually trust Bobby Valentine as manager.

Maybe it is all Ben Cherington's fault for not signing any great relievers for the 2012 season, but he couldn't predict that Andrew Bailey would be out for several months.

It should be another great game for the Red Sox in 2012, but this would be their second victory of the season, which isn't something to celebrate. Now, a postseason berth would be a success in 2012.