The Boston Red Sox (+105) host the Texas Rangers (-125) at Fenway Park on Friday. Look out for some offensive firepower with the early total at 10 runs. The Red Sox (64-68) took Thursday’s series opener 9-8, their third head-to-head victory in four games this season. Reliever Jeurys Familia threw one scoreless inning to get the win. Alex Verdugo went 3 for 4 with a home run and three runs in the win. Christian Arroyo added a double and three RBIs. Nathaniel Lowe was 2 for 3 with one run for the Rangers (58-72).
ON THE MOUND
Dallas Keuchel (2-8, 8.84 ERA) is in line to take the mound for Texas. The southpaw allowed seven runs over 5.1 innings in his last start, an 11-2 home defeat against the Tigers on Saturday. He was charged with the loss, giving up 11 hits while striking out one and walking one. Over two previous starts against the Red Sox this season, Keuchel has allowed eight earned runs over eight innings (1-1, 9.00). He has struck out nine and walked three. Right-hander Nick Pivetta (9-10, 4.40 ERA) will toe the rubber for Boston. He has made one prior start against the Rangers this season, giving up one runs over seven innings in a 7-1 road win on May 13. He gave up three hits and walked one, while striking out four in the win. In his last start on Sunday, Pivetta took the loss at home against the Rays. He threw five innings and gave up five runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking three in the 12-4 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Texas has averaged 4.6 runs a game, equal to their season average. Against righties like Pivetta this season, the Rangers have a .686 OPS. Corey Seager is the team’s best performer against right-handers with a .803 OPS in 340 at-bats. Boston is averaging 5.2 runs per game in the last five, up slightly from 4.5 for the season. The Sox have a .767 OPS against left-handers in 2022. With a 1.003 OPS over 95 at-bats, Xander Bogaerts has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Texas is 30-34 in away games in 2022, scoring 4.9 runs per game while allowing 4.2 runs. Boston has gone 32-34 at Fenway Park this season, averaging 4.6 runs per game while surrendering 5.3. In the last 10 meetings at Fenway Park, Boston is 7-3 with an average scoreline of 5.5-5.0.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Rangers are third in the AL West, 25 games behind the division-leading Astros. The Red Sox are fifth in the AL East, 15 games behind the Yankees.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Boston Red Sox (-190)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
