Boston Red Sox vs Texas Rangers Picks and Predictions August 13th 2024

Red Sox’s reshuffled roster looks for another win over Rangers

From Fenway Park in Boston, we have the Rangers and Red Sox facing off in an AL matchup. First pitch for this one is set for 7:10 PM ET, and BSSW is carrying the game on TV. The Red Sox are favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -144, while the Rangers are at +121. The over/under line is currently at 9.5 runs.

Texas comes into the game on a two-game losing streak and is 55-64 overall, while the Red Sox are 3rd in the AL East with a record of 62-55. José Ureña will start for the Rangers, and he is facing off against Kutter Crawford for the Red Sox.

Texas vs. Boston Key Information

• Teams: Rangers at Red Sox
• Where: Fenway Park Boston
• Date: Tuesday, August 13th
• Betting Odds BOS -144 | TEX +121 O/U 9.5

The Rangers Can Win If…

Texas is sending right-hander José Ureña to the mound today vs. the Red Sox. He has made 27 appearances this season and finished with a no-decision in his last outing, where he gave up two earned runs in 4 innings of work out of the bullpen. Ureña has made eight starts and has a record of 3-7 with a 3.73 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting .249 off Ureña this season, and his WHIP is 1.32. Per nine innings, he has 5.87 strikeouts and 3.2 walks. Ureña has allowed a total of 11 home runs this season.

Corey Seager has been one of the league’s top power hitters this season, as his 26 homers are the best mark on the team and 8th best in the league. Seager also leads the Rangers with 63 RBIs and comes into the game on a three-game hitting streak. Over his last nine games, Seager has five homers and 10 RBIs. Adolis Garcia is also near the top of the MLB home run leaderboard, but he is batting just .219 for the season. However, he has gone 11/33 in his last nine games.

As a team, the Rangers are just 20th in the league in scoring at 4.2 runs per game. This season, they are batting a collective .238, which is 17th in the MLB. As a team, they are 15th in homers and have been good at avoiding strikeouts.

• The Rangers are 3-7 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Rangers are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Texas has an over/under record of 6-3-1 in their last ten games.
• The Rangers have an average of 4.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Rangers are 2-8
• 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…

Kutter Crawford will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing vs. the Royals, as he got the start and took the loss. In that outing, he went just 3 2/3 innings, giving up six runs (all earned), and three home runs. Looking at his overall numbers, Crawford has made 23 starts and has a record of 7-9. His ERA is 4.11, along with a WHIP of 1.13. Opposing batters are hitting .226 off the right-hander this season. Crawford’s strikeout per nine innings figure is 8.57, and he has issued just 2.33 walks per nine innings.

Currently, the Red Sox are 4th in the league in runs scored at 4.9 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.3 runs per contest. Overall, they are one of the league’s top home run hitting teams and have the best team BABIP in the league. As a team, the Red Sox are batting .260, which is the 4th best mark in the league.

Rafael Devers has been the Red Sox’s top power threat this season, as his 25 home runs lead the team and is 9th in the MLB. He also leads the team with 71 RBIs while batting .297. Over his last 10 games, Devers is 12/34. Jarren Duran is batting .291 for the season and has gone deep 14 times. He is also 2nd on the team with 58 RBIs.

• The Red Sox are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Red Sox are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• Boston has an over/under record of 8-1-1 in their last ten games.
• The Red Sox have an average of 3.8 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 3-2
• 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 a money-line pick, we are leaning toward the Red Sox to come out on top as they host the Rangers today. We also like the chances of this game going under the over/under line of 9.5 runs. This game is projected to have the 4th lowest combined run total in the league today, and 2nd lowest among today’s games, José Ureña is 2nd worst among today’s starters in projected strikeouts.

After a flurry of roster moves, the Boston Red Sox capped off a busy day with an electrifying 5-4 walk-off victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night. The win not only snapped a four-game losing streak but also showcased the impact of Boston’s roster reshuffling as they aim to build momentum in the series.

Gasper’s Debut Steals the Show

The highlight of the night was undoubtedly Mickey Gasper’s major league debut. Promoted earlier in the day from Triple-A Worcester, the 28-year-old New Hampshire native made an immediate impact. Gasper’s pinch-hit walk in the 10th inning set the stage for Rob Refsnyder’s game-winning single, sealing a much-needed victory for Boston.

Gasper’s journey to the majors has been remarkable. Since being promoted to Worcester on June 4, he’s been a standout, batting an impressive .401 with a 1.017 OPS over 40 games. His promotion came in the wake of outfielder Jarren Duran’s two-game suspension for using a homophobic slur during a recent game, opening a spot on the roster.

“It’s been a lot of hard work and belief to get to this point,” Gasper said, reflecting on his debut. “I’m just speechless to be part of a win like this.”

Red Sox’s Strategic Adjustments Pay Off

The Red Sox’s decision to bring Gasper into the lineup is a testament to the team’s focus on performance and potential. Manager Alex Cora praised Gasper’s consistency, noting how his strong at-bats over the past two months made him the right fit for the roster at this crucial time.

Boston’s win was also a relief for Kutter Crawford, who is slated to start the next game. Crawford has faced challenges recently, allowing at least five runs in his last four starts. However, his lone win during this period came against the Rangers on August 2, where he navigated through a tough outing to help secure an 11-6 victory. Crawford’s ability to bounce back will be key as the Red Sox look to maintain their momentum.

Rangers Struggling to Find Their Footing

On the other side, the Texas Rangers continue to face difficulties, now sitting nine games below .500. Monday’s loss was their fifth in the last six games, despite a powerful home run from Corey Seager that briefly tied the game in the seventh inning.

Jose Urena, who is set to start for Texas in the next game, will need to deliver a strong performance to stop the team’s slide. Urena struggled in his last outing against Boston, allowing seven runs in just over four innings. The Rangers’ pitching depth will be tested, especially after the late innings of Monday’s game were managed by rookies Gerson Garabito and Walter Pennington.

Lineup Changes and the Road Ahead

In an attempt to rejuvenate the team, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy made some adjustments to the lineup, returning Marcus Semien to the leadoff spot and placing Adolis Garcia in the cleanup position. However, the move didn’t yield the desired results on Monday, with both players going 1-for-5.

Bochy’s strategy reflects a return to basics, hoping that familiar roles can help key players regain their form. The Rangers will need their offense to step up, particularly with their pitching staff under pressure. Urena’s ability to contain the Red Sox’s lineup will be crucial if Texas hopes to avoid further slipping in the standings.

Looking Forward

The Red Sox’s walk-off win, powered by fresh faces like Gasper and a resilient approach from their seasoned players, could be the spark they need to turn their season around. With Crawford taking the mound next, Boston will aim to capitalize on this momentum and secure another victory against a struggling Rangers team.

For Texas, the challenge will be to regroup quickly and find a way to break out of their slump. Urena’s performance will be pivotal, but the Rangers will also need their offense to deliver if they are to compete in the remaining games of the series.

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