The Boston Red Sox will take the field against the Texas Rangers in a Thursday showdown. This AL showdown will begin at 2:05 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to Fox Sports Southwest to catch the game.
Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers Odds
The Red Sox are 83-75 SU and are 66-91 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 25.8 units for moneyline gamblers and 33.9 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has hit in all seven of them. The Rangers, on the other hand, are 75-83 SU and 84-73 ATS. The team’s gained 5.4 units for moneyline bettors and 1.7 units ATS. Texas has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Texas games have an over/under record of 71-83-3 in 2019. Red Sox games have gone over 89 times, gone under 65 times and pushed on three occasions.
Brian Johnson is getting the start for the visiting Red Sox. The left-handed Johnson (1-3, 6.05 ERA) has recorded 30 strikeouts in 38.2 innings so far. He has yet to face the Rangers this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Rangers are turning to Mike Minor (13-10, 3.52 ERA). Minor has 191 punchouts and 66 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.23. Minor is 0-0 with six strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA in one start against Boston this year.
As a unit, Texas’ pitching staff has given up 5.4 runs per game overall in 2019. Its starters have an ERA of 5.40, a WHIP of 1.48 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.4. The bullpen has a 4.64 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 8.9 K/9.
Texas’ offense has put up 4.9 runs per contest, including 4.3 per game over its last 10 games and 4.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .256/.317/.470 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
Elvis Andrus and Shin-soo Choo have led the Rangers’ offense this year. Andrus is hitting .274/.311/.396 with 12 home runs, 72 RBIs, 78 runs and 28 steals, and Choo’s line sits at .265/.367/.453 with 23 homers, 59 RBIs and 88 runs scored.
For the visiting squad, Boston’s pitchers have allowed 5.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.94 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 9.60 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.34, along with a K/9 of 10.52.
The Red Sox offense has slashed .269/.342/.467 on its way to 5.6 runs scored per game in 2019, including 6.1 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 7.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Third baseman Rafael Devers and shortstop Xander Bogaerts continue to lead Boston’s hitters. Devers is slashing .310/.361/.556 with 32 home runs, 115 RBIs and 127 runs scored. Bogaerts (.305/.380/.549) is up to 32 homers, 113 RBIs and 108 runs scored.
The Red Sox have lost 14.7 units and are 18-33 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has hit in 29 of those games, compared to 21 that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers.
Red Sox vs. Rangers Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Rangers, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- Each offenses has tallied 17 extra-base hits over its last five contests.
- The Red Sox have a team OPS of .809 this season and an OPS of .788 against left-handed pitchers. The Rangers’ OPS sits at .749 overall and .733 against lefties.
- The Rangers have lost nine of their last 10 games SU.
- Boston has posted 25.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 29.0 over its last five.
- The Red Sox have hit 15 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
