Rangers vs Red Sox MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
The Red Sox got things back on track by winning three straight against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays, but a 1-0 loss in Monday’s Patriot’s Day matinee will set up a must win series against the red-hot Texas Rangers who will roll into Fenway on Tuesday night for a short two-game set.
TEX : Colby Lewis (1-0, 1.42) vs. BOS: Jon Lester (0-1, 2.40)
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 17 – 7:10 PM EST
Venue: Fenway Park in Boston, MA.
Broadcast: MLBTV (National) Fox Sports Southwest (Texas) NESN (Boston)
LINE: Red Sox -119
TOTAL: 8.5
After losing five of its first nine games, Boston now finds itself 1.5 games back of division leaders the New York Yankees who will start their three game series tonight at home against Minnesota before heading north to Boston for a three-game set this weekend.
The Sox need to grab a pair here.
But that’s going to be no easy task against the AL West-leading Rangers, who after losing just two of their first seven games to start the 2012 season, have now reeled off four wins in a row.
And although Texas ranks among the top three in the AL in home runs, runs, RBIs and hits, it’s the Rangers pitching staff that’s getting it done, leading the AL in ERA with a 2.30 average, second only to the Washington Nationals.
They will look to continue that trend when pitching ace, Colby Lewis takes the mound for game one.
The veteran righty has been on fire, but again much like last season’s postseason run, had another stellar outing go for naught. After pitching 6 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball on Wednesday versus Seattle, giving up just five hits and striking out six and walking none. He turned the ball over to the bullpen which allowed the Mariners to score three runs in the top of the ninth en route to the 4-3 win. Lewis earned the no-decision in the outing. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
In seven career games against the Red Sox, Lewis is 2-3 with a 5.01 ERA.
Not good considering the Red Sox have exploded against some of the league’s best hurlers this season, scoring over 10 runs in a single game three times en route to plating an MLB second-best 53 runs with the league’s No. 3 batting average.
Nevertheless, the Sox have also given up their share of runs, with opponents scoring over 10 runs in two losses, and will look for Jon Lester to turn things around.
The lefty is yet to grab his first win this season in two starts, losing his last time out 3-1 to Toronto. A game Lester should have won after allowing just three runs and three hits in eight innings, walking three and striking out six while picking up a complete-game loss.
More bad news. He had an 8.44 ERA in his only start against Texas last season.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Rangers- Although Fenway can prove a difficult place to play for the visiting team, Texas is proving to be up to the challenge of defending their second consecutive AL West title, and I think it will take more than the fans at Fenway to derail them.
