Boston Red Sox vs Texas Rangers Picks and Predictions August 12th 2024

Red Sox look to end 4-game skid vs. Rangers

The Red Sox and Rangers are set to face off in an AL matchup at 7:10 PM ET. This one is being played at Fenway Park in Boston, and the Red Sox are favored on the money line, with their line sitting at -135 compared to the Rangers at +115. The over/under line is currently at 9.5 runs.

ESPN is carrying this game on TV, and the Rangers will be looking for a win with Tyler Mahle on the mound. The Red Sox are 61-55 but have lost four straight. Brayan Bello is starting for Boston.

Texas vs. Boston Key Information

• Teams: Rangers at Red Sox
• Where: Fenway Park Boston
• Date: Monday, August 12th
• Betting Odds BOS -135 | TEX +115 O/U 9.5

The Rangers Can Win If…

Tyler Mahle and the Rangers are on the road to take on the Red Sox. Mahle is coming off a start in which he took a loss to the Astros. In that outing, he went 5 innings, giving up 1 earned run on 5 hits and struck out 2.

Corey Seager has been hot of late for the Rangers, going 11/38 in his last nine games with six homers and 11 RBIs. For the season, he is batting .274 with 25 homers and 61 RBIs. Seager’s 61 RBIs are the most on the team, and his 25 homers are the best mark in the Texas lineup. Adolis García is also near the top of the league in homers, but he is batting just .220 for the season.

As a team, the Rangers are just 19th in scoring at 4.2 runs per game. They are also near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories, including batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging. Currently, the Rangers have two players on four-game hitting streaks, with one of those players being Adolis García.

• The Rangers are 3-7 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Rangers are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Texas has an over/under record of 7-3 in their last ten games.
• The Rangers have an average of 4.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Rangers are 3-7
• Looking back across the Rangers last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Texas has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Rangers have averaged 3.9 runs per game on offense

The Red Sox Can Win If…

Brayan Bello gets the start for the Red Sox today and comes in with a record of 10-5 and ERA of 5.16. Looking back at his last outing, Bello finished with a no-decision after giving up three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings of work. He has finished with a no-decision in each of his last four outings. Bello has made 21 starts this season and has a WHIP of 1.45. Opponents are batting .268 off the right-hander this season. Bello has a total of seven quality starts this year.

Heading into today’s game, the Red Sox offense is 4th in the league in runs scored, averaging 4.9 runs per contest. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.3 runs per game. As a team, the Red Sox are batting .261, which is the 3rd best mark in the league. They are also near the top of the league in home runs and have the top team BABIP in the league.

Rafael Devers comes into the game with a team-high 71 RBIs and is also leading the Red Sox with 25 home runs. Devers is batting .300 for the season. Jarren Duran is 2nd on the team in RBIs and has a batting average of .291. Over his last eight games, Masataka Yoshida is 10/31 with two homers and five RBIs.

• The Red Sox are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Red Sox are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Boston has an over/under record of 8-2 in their last ten games.
• The Red Sox have an average of 4.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Red Sox are 5-5
• Looking back across the Red Sox last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Boston has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Red Sox have averaged 6.8 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as this is projected to be the 3rd highest-scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Rangers to pick up the win. Texas comes in with our 3rd highest projected run total, and Tyler Mahle has the 6th best odds to pick up a win among today’s starters. On the other side, Brayan Bello has the 11th best strikeout projection among today’s starters.

The Boston Red Sox are in desperate need of a turnaround as they prepare to face the Texas Rangers in a three-game series starting Monday at Fenway Park. Coming off a difficult stretch that includes a four-game losing streak and a sweep by the Houston Astros, the Red Sox are seeking to regain momentum as they continue to fight for a playoff spot. However, their road to recovery won’t be easy, as they’ll face a Texas team also hungry for a win after a tough loss to the New York Yankees.

Red Sox Struggles Continue Amid Injuries and Inconsistencies

The Red Sox’s recent performance has been far from ideal. Over their last three games against the Houston Astros, Boston was outscored 23-10 and struggled offensively, hitting just .188 as a team. The pitching staff also faced significant challenges, surrendering nine home runs across the series. Sunday’s 10-2 defeat was a low point, with the Astros dominating from start to finish.

Manager Alex Cora, however, is urging his team to keep things in perspective. “Let’s not make it bigger than what it is,” Cora said following Sunday’s loss. “We lost three games. We played well the first two. (Sunday) … they put it on us. We got to turn the page and get ready for (Monday).”

The Red Sox’s problems extend beyond just their recent losses. On Sunday, starting pitcher James Paxton was forced to leave the game after just five pitches due to a right calf strain. Paxton, who has been a reliable arm for Boston this season, will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury. This adds to the team’s pitching woes, as they were already forced to rely on bullpen games over the weekend due to other rotation issues.

Cooper Criswell, originally slated to start on Saturday, was placed on the COVID-related injured list, leaving the Red Sox scrambling. Nick Pivetta, another key pitcher, had to be skipped in the rotation because of arm fatigue. These disruptions have placed significant strain on the bullpen, which had to carry a heavy load in both Saturday and Sunday’s games.

Rangers Looking to Rebound After Close Loss to Yankees

The Texas Rangers are also in a rough patch, having lost 11 of their last 15 games. They nearly mounted a comeback on Sunday against the New York Yankees, scoring all seven of their runs in the final four innings, but ultimately fell short in an 8-7 defeat.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged the bullpen’s struggles but remained hopeful about his team’s offensive potential. “Bullpen had a tough day,” Bochy said after the loss. “That came back to get us. But now the bats are starting to come alive. You would like to see it happen earlier in the game, but it’s good to see some life going with these guys, especially late in the game.”

Despite their recent slide, the Rangers remain determined and have shown signs of life in their lineup. The key for Texas will be translating that late-game energy into more consistent offensive production throughout the game.

Monday’s Pitching Matchup: Tyler Mahle vs. Brayan Bello

Monday’s game will feature an intriguing pitching matchup between Texas right-hander Tyler Mahle and Boston righty Brayan Bello.

Tyler Mahle will make his second start for the Rangers after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023 while with the Minnesota Twins. In his first start back, Mahle showed promise, allowing just one run on five hits over five innings in a 4-2 loss to Houston. This will be Mahle’s first career appearance against the Red Sox, and Texas will be counting on him to deliver a strong performance to help end their recent skid.

On the other side, Brayan Bello returns to the mound for Boston after a brief absence while on the paternity list. Bello has had a solid season overall but has struggled in his career against Texas, holding a 2-1 record with a 5.63 ERA in three starts. The Red Sox will be hoping Bello can overcome his past difficulties against the Rangers and help the team get back in the win column.

Conclusion

Both the Red Sox and Rangers are desperate to turn their fortunes around, making this upcoming series a pivotal one for both teams. Boston is looking to end their four-game losing streak and overcome their recent struggles, while Texas hopes to break out of their own slump and start climbing back up the standings. With both teams dealing with injuries and inconsistencies, the series opener on Monday promises to be a hard-fought contest.

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