Tuesday MLB: Boston Red Sox (55-37) at Texas Rangers (50-41)
The Boston Red Sox could fall out of first in the AL East tonight if they drop a second game in a row in Arlington against the Rangers.
Monday’s 6-3 Texas win was its second straight on the heels of a four-game losing streak. It was also the Rangers’ fourth win in the last six games against the Red Sox. Boston has dropped three straight for the first time since May 13-15, and it is tied with the Yankees atop the AL East.
But the Red Sox are pretty sizable -170 money line favorites for tonight’s game on WagerWeb.com.
The Boston offense has struggled since the break, totaling just 10 runs in four games. Jason Bay is 2-for-15 thus far in the second half. J.D. Drew has one hit in his past 26 at-bats and his average is down to .239, the lowest it’s been since May 14. Jason Varitek is in a 2-for-19 slump.
“It’s just one of those things you go through from time to time when not everybody is clicking from time to time, and there’s really no magical formula for it,” said Bay. “Success breeds confidence. You’ve got to have the success first.”
And that the Red Sox are facing a rookie pitcher tonight in Tommy Hunter (1-1, 3.25) is not at all a good thing. Hunter will become the 24th rookie starting pitcher to face the Sox this season. Rookie starters have a 7-14 record and a 5.47 ERA against Boston this season. But since June 19, rookie starters have beaten the Sox five times. Hunter has a 3.18 ERA over 17 innings at home this year.
Boston starts ace Josh Beckett (11-3, 3.35). Since the beginning of May, Beckett is 9-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 13 starts, with opponents hitting .204 against him. Boston is 6-1 in his past seven road starts.
The Rangers lead all of baseball with 139 home runs, three of which came Monday. They are 4-0 in their last 4 games as a home underdog.
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