Red Sox vs Rangers | Predictions

Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers
8:05 PM Friday August 12 – MLBN
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Pitching Probables: Josh Beckett vs. Tommy Hunter

Boston enters this series off of a disappointing ninth inning collapse against the Blue Jays – Papelbon imploded again. Now they face a Texas Rangers team practically guaranteed a playoff spot despite having one less victory than Boston. This is the Red Sox first trip to Texas this year. These two teams have faced off 7 times already though with Texas taking 4 games of 7 at Fenway. This is a key series for Boston who can afford no more ebbs in the schedule if they want to be relevant next month. Unfortunately they are stuck with Josh Beckett on the mound. He was spanked by the Yankees is his last start and has been very unimpressive since returning from injury – not even making it through the 6th innning in four of six appearances. Maybe a return home to Texas will help but it seems doubtful.

The Texas Rangers are on cruise control. They have the largest lead of any division leader in the majors but are playing only mediocre ball of late, just 5-5 in their last 10 games. Tonight’s starter is Tommy Hunter. Far from overpowering he has a fantastic 9-1 record and the Rangers are 10-2 when he starts. He had a string of 7 quality starts busted a couple of starts ago but rebounded with six shutout innings against the Mariners. His last start against Boston he beat Tim Wakefield while holding the Red Sox to only a couple of runs. Boston definitely needs this game but they are facing one of the better home teams in the league with a depleted lineup and against a solid starter. That doesn’t bode well for Boston unless Beckett can return to form.

Prediction: No strong indicators for Boston in this one. They will have better chances to win deep in the heart of Texas on Saturday.

Texas is -125 in this one and the O/U is set at 9.5

Score Prediction: (I know who can predict a baseball score)
Texas Rangers – 7
Boston Red Sox – 3

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Boston Red Sox Betting Trends:

• Boston is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games on the road
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boston’s last 5 games when playing Texas
• Boston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Texas
• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston’s last 7 games when playing on the road against Texas

Texas Rangers Betting Trends:

• The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Texas’s last 10 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Texas’s last 11 games at home
• Texas is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas’s last 5 games when playing Boston