Rangers vs Red Sox Preview: Boston’s Pitching Injuries Complicates Things

Can Red Sox Play Their Way Out of the American League East Basement?

The Boston Red Sox might have the longest active winning streak among American League teams, but they could have their hands full when it comes to the Rangers vs Red Sox preview.

Texas leads the majors with 494 runs scored and could be the first time this season to score 500 runs. Boston is second among American League East teams in runs scored, but that hasn’t helped the Red Sox dig themselves out of the AL East cellar.

Dane Dunning and Jon Gray, who are a combined 13-5, are slated to pitch the first two games of the series for the Rangers.

When considering making some MLB predictions, keep in mind that Texas is 23-17 on the road this season with the Red Sox just 21-21 at home.

Texas (+1200) is fifth in the odds to win the MLB World Series. The Red Sox are well back at +10000 in the championship odds.

Probable Starting Pitchers

• Tuesday: Dane Dunning (Rangers); To Be Determined (Red Sox)
• Wednesday: Jon Gray (Rangers); To Be Determined (Red Sox)
• Thursday: To Be Determined (Rangers); To Be Determined (Red Sox)

Bullpen Struggling for Rangers

Heading into Monday’s series finale against the Astros, it has been a bumpy start to July for the Rangers bullpen.

Over the previous two games, they have allowed nine hits, a pair of home runs, and seven runs in six innings in splitting their first two games in July. Keep that in mind when looking at the Rangers vs Red Sox preview.

This has been a disturbing trend for the Rangers are their relievers are 15-17 with a 4.45 ERA and 30 home runs allowed.

Not including Monday’s game, five of the last seven games played by Texas in the month of July finished under the total.

Who Will Pitch In?

The last thing the Red Sox needed would be more injuries to pitchers. The rotation for the upcoming series is up in the air. There have already been 11 different starting pitchers for the Red Sox this season. That is a concern when looking at the Rangers vs Red Sox preview.

Garrett Whitlock is the latest pitcher to be bitten by the injury bug for the Red Sox. Tanner Houck recently underwent facial surgery when he was hit in the face with a line drive during a recent series with the rival New York Yankees.

Facing a Texas team that leads the majors in batting average and slugging percentage with runners in scoring position with pitching questions is not a great combination.

Six of Boston’s last 10 games went over the total.

Who’s Hot

• Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox OF: Duran is 11-for-24 in his last seven games with five runs scored, five extra-base hits and four stolen bases.
• Chris Martin, Boston Red Sox P: Martin hasn’t allowed a run in his last nine games. He has surrendered five hits with eight strikeouts in 8.1 innings during that stretch.
• Yerry Rodriguez, Texas Rangers P: Rodriguez has allowed six hits and one run with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings in his last seven outings.
• Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers 2B: Semien is batting .421 with four extra-base hits and six runs scored in his last nine games.

Who’s Not

• Mitch Garver, Texas Rangers C: Garver has two hits in his last 16 at-bats with six strikeouts in his last five games.
• Josh Sborz, Texas Rangers P: Sborz has allowed five hits and six runs while recording a total of seven outs in his last two games.
• Josh Winckowski, Red Sox P: Winckowski has given up 10 hits, four home runs, and seven runs over 4.1 innings during his last three appearances.
• Connor Wong, Red Sox C: Wong is 1-for-17 with six strikeouts in his last six games.

Rangers vs Red Sox Injury Update

Pitcher Jose Leclerc is expected back at some point in July for the Rangers.

For the Red Sox, outfielder Masataka Yoshida, second baseman Enmanuel Valdez, and pitcher Garrett Whitlock are day-to-day. Yoshida is third on the Red Sox with nine home runs and 41 RBIs.

Rangers vs Red Sox Betting Preview

• Boston looks for its fifth win in a row against the Rangers after sweeping a four-game series in September. The Red Sox have won seven of the last eight games versus the Rangers. The home team has won six of the last eight meetings.
• Boston got a needed day off after a sweep of Toronto that pulled the Red Sox within two games of the Blue Jays. The last two wins were one-run affairs.
• Texas has hit a rough patch, losing a series to the New York Yankees before splitting four games with Detroit.
• Texas is 32-20 when listed as a favorite this season with Boston 24-24 as the underdog.
• Texas has covered 24 of its 40 road games, one of the best marks in the majors.
• For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

UPDATED ODDS GAME 1: RL (Rangers -1.5 +140) (Red Sox +1.5 -160), ML Rangers -110/EV, Over/Under 9.5 -115/-105

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