Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers Free Pick 05/06/18

The Boston Red Sox will be facing off against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park. New England Sports Network will be showing this AL matchup and the game gets going at 3:05 p.m. ET.

Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers Odds

Texas (+205) is coming into this one as the underdog against Boston (-225) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs (-110 for the over and -110 for the under). The game’s runline odds sit at -150 for taking the Red Sox -1.5 runs and +130 for the Rangers +1.5 runs.

The Red Sox are 24-9 SU and are 15-17 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 8.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline through the early part of the year, despite having lost 2.2 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Rangers, on the other hand, are 13-22 SU and 14-20 ATS. The team has lost 1.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 10.2 units ATS. Texas has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven outings and the total has gone over in five of those seven.

Texas games have an 18-14-2 over/under record thus far in 2018. Boston has an over/under record of 17-14-1.

Chris Sale will get the nod for the visiting Red Sox. The southpaw Sale is 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA and 51 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Rangers this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (1-0, 3.68 ERA and six strikeouts across 7.1 innings).

The Rangers are going with righty Doug Fister (1-2, 2.88 ERA), who’s got 20 strikeouts and 10 walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.48. Fister did not record a start against the Red Sox in 2017.

As a unit, Texas’ pitchers have allowed 5.4 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have an ERA of 5.08, a WHIP of 1.48 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 4.71 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 8.1 K/9.

Texas’ offense has produced 4.1 runs per outing, including 5.3 per game over its last 10 games and 5.8 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .242/.289/.500 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.

First baseman Joey Gallo and right fielder Nomar Mazara have led the Rangers’ hitters so far. Gallo is hitting .223/.303/.531 with 12 home runs, 24 RBIs and 22 runs scored, and Mazara’s line is .285/.336/.492 with seven homers, 23 RBIs and 18 runs scored.

Gallo seemed to enjoy hitting lefties at home last year. In 70 such plate appearances, he slashed .259/.429/.556 (compared to his total season line of .209/.332/.536).

In the visiting dugout, Boston’s pitching staff allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starters own a 3.57 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 9.38 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.43, along with a WHIP of 1.15.

The Red Sox offense has slashed .269/.336/.458 on its way to 5.6 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.5 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).

Boston’s hitters have been powered by Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez, who’ve collectively launched 20 home runs. Betts is slashing .352/.433/.824 with 13 home runs, 26 RBIs and 35 runs scored, while Martinez is slashing .344/.388/.590 with seven homers, 26 RBIs and 20 runs scored.

Compared to his overall season slash line of .303/.376/.690, Martinez had some trouble hitting righty pitching on the road last year, putting up a slash line of only .255/.299/.588 across 177 such plate appearances.

The Red Sox have gained 11.4 units and are 13-12 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 15 of those games, compared to nine that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Rangers have lost 1.4 units and are 3-6 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in six of those games, as opposed to two that’ve gone under.

Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers Free Prediction

Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER

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