The Boston Red Sox’s rotation is a bit jumbled right now with injuries and having played a doubleheader over the weekend. So, the team is pondering giving one of its top pitching prospects his first big-league start Tuesday vs. the Texas Rangers. How much the Red Sox are favored on the MLB Lines will not be determined until the team names an official starter.
Rangers vs Red Sox MLB Spread & Prediction
- When: Tuesday, 7:10 PM ET
- Where: Fenway Park
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Ariel Jurado/Darwinzon Hernandez
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: 104.5 ESPN
- MLB Spread: Boston Red Sox -1.5 (Total 10.5)
Why Bet on Texas?
Texas went 1-6 against Boston last year, losing the final 6 games after winning the year’s opener on 5/3/18 at Arlington. The club has lost 12 of 14 to the Red Sox beginning 7/6/16 with a pair of 6-game losing streaks (also 7/6/16-7/4/17). The last losing streak of more than six to Boston was 9 straight losses, 7/2/07-9/5/08. Still, the Rangers hold a 41-34 lead since 2009. Texas is 4-2 vs. AL East teams this year winning 2 of 3 at home vs. the Jays and Orioles. This is the team’s 1st road set vs. and A.L. East club since going 2-3 at NYY, 8/9-12/18.
The Rangers are without slugging outfielder Joey Gallo as he’s on the injured list with an oblique strain. He’s having an outstanding season for the Rangers, slashing .276/.421/.653 with 17 long balls and 41 RBI. Fellow outfielder Willie Calhoun, who has been on the IL since 5/22 with a left quad strain, will continue his rehab early this week at the extended spring program in Arizona. On Sunday, Asdrubal Cabrera became the 4th Ranger with 10+ homers in 2019, joining Gallo (17), Hunter Pence (13), and Shin-Soo Choo (11).
It’s young Ariel Jurado (3-2, 2.78) for Texas. Jurado (2-1) allowed three runs on eight hits and one walk across six innings to earn the win last Thursday against the Orioles. He struck out six. Jurado gave up his share of baserunners as he allowed baserunners in three different innings. Fortunately, he limited the O’s to just two extra-base hits and walked just one as be battled through six frames for his third consecutive quality start. Jurado owns a sharp 2.78 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP through 23.1 innings.
Jurado has won his last two starts and is 2-1 with a 3.57 ERA in four starts for the Rangers. He is 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA in nine relief appearances. He has held left-handed hitters to a .206 average but righties are hitting .310 off him. Jurado has never faced Boston. He is 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA (4 ER/15.1 IP) in 6 G/1 GS on the road this season.
Team Stats
Offense
- Runs: 5.66
- Hits: 8.91
- Walks: 3.60
- Strike Outs: 9.74
Defense
- Runs: 5.15
- Hits: 9.43
- Walks: 3.69
- Strike Outs: 8.29
Why Bet on Boston?
Red Sox manager Alex Cora reiterated Sunday that he’s hopeful DH J.D. Martinez (back) will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list. Martinez missed his fourth consecutive game on Sunday due to back spasms, but he is at least improving.
First baseman Mitch Moreland has been doing some running on the treadmill. Moreland landed on the injured list Saturday with a right quad strain, but he might be able to return when his 10 days are up or shortly after. Utility man Steve Pearce was cleared to resume baseball activities on Monday. Pearce has been out all month with back spasms.
The Red Sox are the only team in the majors with as many as 5 qualifying players with an OBP of .355 or higher this season: Mookie Betts (.385), Xander Bogaerts (.375), Martinez (.371), Rafael Devers (.361), and Andrew Benintendi (.358). Bogaerts and Mike Trout are the only AL players with at least 30 XBH, 40 RBI, and 40 runs scored.
Red Sox relievers had a 4.99 ERA through the club’s first 25 games (through 4/24). In the games since then, the Sox’s bullpen owns the majors’ 3rd-lowest ERA (3.44) and the lowest opponent AVG (.209). Overall, Sox relievers rank 9th in the majors in ERA (4.06) and 3rd in opponent AVG (.226).
The Red Sox’s rotation is a bit in flux right now, so it’s not 100 percent who will start this game. Good chance that Darwinzon Hernandez will be called up from Double-A to make it as he’s already on the team’s 40-man roster. Hernandez was scratched from his scheduled turn Saturday for no apparent injury-related reason, suggesting the Red Sox are looking to promote him when a fifth starter is needed Tuesday.
Hernandez has spent all season with Double-A Portland but for when he served as the 26th man on the roster for the second game of Boston’s doubleheader against the Tigers on April 23. Baseball America ranked him Boston’s No. 1 pitching prospect entering 2019. He’s 1-4 with a 5.13 ERA (10 outings, nine starts) for Portland. He has walked 32 but held foes to a .217 average.
Team Stats
Offense
- Runs: 5.22
- Hits: 8.91
- Walks: 3.94
- Strike Outs: 8.28
Defense
- Runs: 4.73
- Hits: 8.25
- Walks: 3.12
- Strike Outs: 9.91
Rangers vs Red Sox MLB Betting Trends
- Rangers are 7-19 in their last 26 road games vs. a team with a winning record
- Rangers are 1-7 SU in their last 8 games when playing on the road against Boston
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Texas’ last 7 games this season
- Red Sox are 2-5 in their last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter
- Red Sox are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games at home
- Under is 4-1 in Jurado’s last 5 starts overall
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston’s last 5 games against an opponent in the American League
Expert Final Score Prediction for Rangers vs Red Sox
Texas Rangers 6 – Boston Red Sox 7
