The Boston Red Sox will be taking on the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park. The game gets underway 8:05 p.m. ET and New England Sports Network will televise this AL showdown.
Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Odds
Vegas has listed Boston (-145) as the favorite over Texas (+135). Bettors are able to gamble on the game’s total with odds sitting at -110 for over 9.5 runs and -110 for under 9.5. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds sitting at +100 for the Red Sox -1.5 runs and -120 for the Rangers +1.5.
The Rangers are 13-21 SU and 14-19 ATS. The team has lost 0.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 9.1 units against the spread (ATS). Texas has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total went over in six of those seven. The Red Sox are 23-9 SU and have gone 14-17 ATS. Overall, the team’s accumulated 7.8 units for moneyline bettors in this young season, but have lost 3.2 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread only once in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Rangers games have an over/under record of 18-13-2 so far in 2018. Boston has an over/under record of 17-13-1.
The left-handed Eduardo Rodriguez will get the start for the visiting Red Sox. Rodriguez is 3-0 with a 4.78 ERA and 29 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rangers this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Rangers are turning to lefty Cole Hamels (1-4, 4.08 ERA), who has 47 strikeouts and 16 walks to his credit as well as a 1.39 WHIP. Hamels did not record a start against the Red Sox in 2017.
Boston’s pitchers have allowed 3.7 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.44 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 9.20 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.53, along with a K/9 of 9.85.
Red Sox hitters have slashed .269/.336/.458 on their way to 5.6 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.3 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Boston’s offensive production been powered by Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, who collectively have belted 20 home runs. Betts is slashing .365/.443/.856 with 13 home runs, 26 RBIs and 34 runs scored, while Martinez is hitting .342 with seven homers, 25 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
Betts performed well against left-handed pitchers in 2017. Over 148 plate appearances, he put up a slash line of .306/.412/.516 (his total season line was .264/.344/.459).
In the home-team dugout, Texas’ pitchers have given up 5.4 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.15, a WHIP of 1.49 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 4.60 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 8.2 K/9.
The Texas hitters have put up 4.1 runs per outing, including 5.0 per game over its last 10 games and 5.8 per game over their last five. The team has hit .255/.312/.489 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.
The Rangers’ batters have been led by Nomar Mazara and Shin-soo Choo. Mazara is hitting .291/.338/.504 with seven home runs, 23 RBIs and 18 runs scored, and Choo’s line is .252/.340/.427 with five homers, 15 RBIs and 21 runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .253/.323/.422, Mazara seemed to take a step back when hitting lefty pitching last season, slashing .228/.286/.317 over 133 plate appearances.
The Red Sox have lost 2.6 units and are 2-5 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in two of those games, compared to five that’ve gone under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Rangers have lost 1.4 units and are 3-6 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over’s hit in six of those games, compared to two that went under.
Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Texas has posted 22.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 24.6 over its last five.
The Red Sox have hit 17 home runs in their last 10 games, including 13 over their last five.
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