Game: Texas Rangers @ Boston Red Sox
Time: 7:10 p.m.
Odds: Rangers -136, Red Sox +126
Total: 10
In an effort to help the visiting Texas Rangers win the decisive game of a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox, All-Star right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound against one of his former teams on Thursday night.
The 33-year-old Eovaldi played for the Red Sox for over four seasons. He was acquired by the Red Sox in a midseason trade. Eovaldi helped Boston win the 2018 World Series. Eovaldi misses Boston, but he won’t miss beating them tonight.
After the 2022 season, Eovaldi (10-3, 2.64 ERA) entered the free agent market. He turned down the Red Sox’s qualifying offer and signed a two-year contract with the Rangers instead. Texas had made it clear that improving the pitching rotation was their top priority for the offseason.
Eovaldi’s major league playing career has also seen him play for the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He has faced the Red Sox seven times in his career, six of which were starts. Against Boston, he has a 4.45 ERA and a 3-0 record. Eovaldi could start for the American League in the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Seattle. He’ll be one of the pitchers that will have enough rest.
Tonight, Boston’s likely starting pitcher is the right-handed Kutter Crawford (3-4, 3.92). On Saturday, Crawford pitched 5.2 innings in Boston’s 7-6 victory over Toronto, earning him a victory. He gave up just two runs on three hits to the Blue Jays while also walking two and striking out five. On May 13, 2022, Crawford made his only career appearance against Texas and pitched two relief innings without allowing a run.
Texas won Game 2 of the series 6-2 on Tuesday, but Boston triumphed 4-2 on Wednesday. The Red Sox had dropped their previous four home games prior to their victory on Wednesday. Last night, Texas shortstop Corey Seager had three hits. He has scored in 24 straight games and is hitting .392 during that stretch.
The Red Sox are in last place in the American League East even though they are playing close to .500 baseball. A postseason berth is still conceivable, according to Boston manager Alex Cora, but his team needs to pick up the pace. Earning a wild card spot is attainable, but the AL East is the toughest division in baseball right now.
The Rangers have lost five of its last seven games. They are also just 1-5 SU in their last six against Boston. Texas is 1-6 SU in its last seven trips to Fenway Park. Tuesday night’s win is the only one in the last seven games. Boston has won four of its last five games. That’s a good thing as the Red Sox had dropped five straight prior to their current stretch.
The Rangers are still the top-scoring team in the majors averaging 5.94 runs per game. Ironically, the Under is 5-1 in the Rangers’ last six games. That’s been the trend for Boston too with five of the Red Sox last seven games going Under the total.
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