The Texas Rangers (63-44) and Boston Red Sox (54-55) will open up a three-game American League series on Monday night at Fenway Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 ET
Texas Rangers at Boston Red Sox
Texas was unable to complete a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals to open up their 10-game road trip, suffering a 7-6 setback on Sunday afternoon. “We gave that away,” commented Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre after the game. “Offensively and defensively. There’s nothing else to say.” The Rangers may have gotten on their flight to Beantown in an emotional-state, but they still own a 5.5-game lead in the AL West standings. Texas is 10-11 as a road favorite of -125 to -150 this season, with the “under” going 11-10 in that situation.
Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11-7, 4.38 ERA) has watched the club alternate wins and losses over his last four outings, coming off a no-decision effort in a 11-10 home win over the Los Angeles Angels in his last effort. The right-hander is 4-5 with a 4.21 ERA in 10 road outings, issuing 41 walks and striking out 68 batters in 62 combined frames. Darvish has compiled an 8-2 record and 2.91 ERA when facing a team for the first time this season.
Boston snapped a four-game losing streak in earning a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins, as the team looks ahead to better success against its next opponent. The Red Sox have lost six of their last eight games against the Rangers, which includes dropping two of three in the Lone Star State from July 23-25. Offensively, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez continues to perform at a high level without designated hitter David Ortiz in the lineup, batting .437 with five home runs and 24 RBIs in his last 23 games. Boston is 33-30 in August since the 2010 campaign.
Red Sox starting pitcher Aaron Cook (2-5, 5.24 ERA) has fallen on hard times in losing three straight games, allowing 17 runs (15 earned) and 20 hits over 15 innings of work in that span. The right-hander is 1-3 with a 5.96 ERA in five home outings, issuing just two walks and striking out just a single batter in 25.2 innings. Cook will be facing the Rangers for the first time in his career.
Sports bettors will likely back the Red Sox due to their 39-19 record in their last 58 home games in this series, while the Rangers are 1-4 in Darvish’s last five efforts as a favorite of -110 to -150.
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