Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA

Boston Red Sox vs Texas Rangers: Both teams need to pick up the pace

The Boston Red Sox are visiting the Texas Rangers today at Globe Life Field.

The Red Sox start a six-game road trip

The Boston Red Sox are third in the AL East with a 57-50 record including 30-22 on the road. They have lost 3 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 3-2 tenth-inning win over the Seattle Mariners. Boston has a 3.94 ERA, a .242 batting average, a .305 on-base percentage, and 1.24 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Jarren Duran is the best player on the team 132 hits, 76 runs while Rafael Devers leads the team with 24 home runs.

The Rangers have split the last ten games

The Texas Rangers are third in the AL West with a 52-57 record, including 29-23 at home. They have lost five if the last six games and are coming off a 10-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Texas has a 4.18 ERA, a .232 batting average, a .310 on-base percentage, and 1.26 walks plus hits per inning pitched. Marcus Semien leads the team with 107 hits and 71 runs while Corey Seager is on top with 19 home runs.

Betting Trends

The Rangers are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games overall, 5-0 SU in their last 5 home games and 3-10 SU in their last 13 games played in August. Texas has played over the total run line in their last 6 games overall, in 4 of their last 5 games against teams from the AL and in 6 of their last 7 games against teams from the AL East. The Red Sox are 4-8 SU in their last 12 games overall, 10-4 SU in their last 14 games against the Rangers, 12-4 SU in their last 16 games against teams from the AL West and 1-4 SU in their last 5 games played in August. Boston has played 6 of their last 7 games overall, in 4 of their last 5 games on the road and in 5 of their last 6 games against teams from the AL.

Prediction and Conclusion

Both teams are in the middle of the standings in their respective divisions, and the month we start will set them either in playoff contention or a total disappointment. The defending champion Texas Rangers are struggling lately, scoring a total of two runs in their last two games. They will start Jose Urena tonight, who is 3-5 for the season with a 3.07 ERA, 53 K, 76.1 IP, and 1.23 WHIP. The Red Sox will have Kutter Crawford on the mound, who is 6-8 for the season with a 3.60 ERA, 117 K, 122.1 IP, and 1.08 WHIP. The Rangers won the last five games at home and the last two home games against the Red Sox, and the last one was a 15-5 win. They need this game more than the Red Sox, so we go with the Rangers winning in the end.