The Boston Red Sox are ready to play the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park. New England Sports Network will televise this AL showdown. The opening pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Odds
Boston (-225) is the favorite over Texas (+205) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs (-110 for the under and -110 for the over). Gamblers can also bet on the games runline with the odds coming in at Red Sox -1.5 runs (-150) and Rangers +1.5 runs (+130).
The Rangers are 13-22 SU and 14-20 ATS. They’ve lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors and 10.2 units against the spread (ATS). Texas has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the over has hit in five of those seven. The Red Sox are 24-9 SU and have gone 15-17 ATS. Overall, the teams gained 8.8 units for moneyline bettors through the early part of the year, but have lost 2.2 units ATS. Boston’s covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Texas games have had an over/under record of 18-14-2 so far in 2018. The Red Sox have an over/under record of 17-14-1.
Chris Sale is getting the nod for the visiting Red Sox. The left-handed Sale is 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA and 51 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rangers this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (1-0, 3.68 ERA and six strikeouts across 7.1 innings).
The Rangers are sending righty Doug Fister (1-2, 2.88 ERA) to the mound. Fister has 20 punchouts and 10 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.48. Fister did not record a start against the Red Sox in 2017.
As a unit, Texas pitchers have allowed 5.4 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have an ERA of 5.08, a WHIP of 1.48 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 4.71 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 8.1 K/9.
The Texas hitters have produced 4.1 runs per contest, including 5.3 per game over its last 10 games and 5.8 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .242/.289/.500 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Rangers hitters have been led by first baseman Joey Gallo and right fielder Nomar Mazara. Gallo is slashing .223/.303/.531 with 12 home runs, 24 RBIs and 22 runs scored, and Mazara’s line is .285/.336/.492 with seven homers, 23 RBIs and 18 runs.
Gallo enjoyed hitting against lefty pitching at home last year, slashing .259/.429/.556 in 70 such plate appearances (his overall season line was .209/.332/.536).
For the visiting squad, Boston’s pitching staff allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starters own a 3.57 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 9.38 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.43, along with a WHIP of 1.15 and a K-per-9 of 10.14.
The Red Sox offense has slashed .269/.336/.458 on its way to 5.6 runs scored per game this year, including 5.5 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 5.4 per game over the teams last five outings (3-2 SU).
Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez have led Boston’s offense. Betts is slashing .352/.433/.824 with 13 home runs, 26 RBIs and 35 runs scored, while Martinez (.344/.388/.590) has produced seven homers, 26 RBIs and 20 runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .303/.376/.690, Martinez did not do especially well against righties on the road last year, maintaining a slash line of .255/.299/.588 across 177 such plate appearances.
The Red Sox have gained 11.4 units and are 13-12 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 15 of those games, compared to nine that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Rangers have lost 1.4 units and are 3-6 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in six of those games, compared to two that went under.
Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Rangers have lost three of their last four games SU.
- Boston has posted 24.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 24.2 over its last five.
- The Red Sox have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games, including 12 over their last five.
