Redsox vs Rangers Preview
The series between the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers has been an interesting one to say the least. This battle between these two division leaders started off with the Red Sox completely dominating the Rangers, 17-5. The game was never close and Boston looked like the all around superior team. Then in the second game of the series the Rangers managed to barley edge out the Sox 3-2. This split series will have a winner tonight as the third and final game of this series takes place.
Will tonight’s game be more like the barn burner from Game 1 where Boston dominates, or will we see a slow burner where Texas comes out on top like in Game 2? If that were a special prop, I’d put my money on the latter, or if I could bet that it will be the Rangers who dominate this game I would likely make that bet instead. The reason for this Derek Holland.
Holland could be billed as the rival to the Boston Red Sox. In fact, that is totally how the MLB is promoting this game.  In his career the left hander is 5-1 with a 2.41 ERA in the six games he has pitched against Boston. Another interesting stat to throw around is that among the pitchers who have pitched against the Red Sox in 40 or more innings, Holland has the best ERA. Holland is also entering the game on a hot streak. He finished up the month of may going 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA.
Starting for the Red Sox is another lefty, however, that is about the only thing Jon Lester has in common with Holland. Lester is unarguably in a slump. In his last three starts he has an ERA at 6.05. His last loss was a loss to the New York Yankees, the most painful type of loss for anyone in a Red Sox uniform.
The pitching battle is not the only thing that the Red Sox have to worry about in tonight’s game, unfortunately for them. Since 2009 the Rangers have simply had the Red Sox number going 29-13 against Boston. The Rangers have also won the last 10 of the 13 games they have played against Boston.
Despite the pitching mismatch, most sports books, like Bovada, have the Red Sox as the favorites to win this game with a money line at -135 compared to the Rangers money line at +115. The game starts at 7:15 p.m. ET.
