The AL East is a two-team race right now between Boston and Tampa Bay. Despite everyone waiting for them to stumble the young Rays actually enter the week with a half-game lead on the Sox in the division.

The Rays will either increase their lead or give it away to Boston when the two teams collide in Tampa starting on Monday and you have to lay -140 moneyline odds on Tampa.

In Monday's game the Sox send rookie Justin Masterson to the hill, while the Rays will hand the ball to James Shields.

Masterson is coming off a no-decision against Arizona in which he surrendered four runs on seven hits in six innings. He faced Tampa Bay back on June 3 and earned a win after allowing four runs on six hits in six innings.

Shields was dominant in his last start against the Marlins; he held Florida to one run on only four hits in seven innings to pick up the win. Shields is very familiar with Boston, as he has faced the Red Sox three times already this season.

In his last outing against the Sox he was roughed up for four runs in the first inning before being ejected in the second after beaning Coco Crisp (a brawl ensued).

Shields' other two starts against Boston this season were as different as night and day. Back in late April Shields pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing only two hits while striking out seven. Less then a week later the Sox blasted Shields for seven runs on 10 hits in only 3 2-3 innings of work.

The first time this season that the Rays and Sox met up Tampa Bay pulled off a surprising three-game sweep. Since then the Sox have owned the Rays, sweeping their last two series to give them six straight wins against Tampa Bay.

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