by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Aug 19, 2021
Game time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Where to watch: Bally Sports Southwest, NESN, MLB Network
Season-to-date
Rangers: 42-79 (Last place, AL West)
Red Sox: 69-54 (3rd place, AL East)
Recent form
Rangers: 2-8 in last 10
Red Sox: 4-6 in last 10, lost three straight
Projected lineup
Rangers:
Yonny Hernandez (S) 2B
Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) SS
Adolis Garcia (R) RF
Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B
Jonah Heim (S) C
DJ Peters (R) CF
Brock Holt (L) 3B
Andy Ibanez (R) DH
Jason Martin (L) LF
Red Sox:
Enrique Hernandez (R) 2B
Hunter Renfroe (R) CF
Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
Rafael Devers (L) 3B
J.D. Martinez (R) RF
Kevin Plawecki (R) DH
Alex Verdugo (L) LF
Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B
Christian Vazquez (R) C
Projected starting pitchers: Dane Dunning (TEX) vs. Chris Sale (BOS)
Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Red Sox -350, Rangers +275
BetMGM: Red Sox -300, Rangers +240
PointsBet: Red Sox -340, Rangers +260
PointsBet: Red Sox -340, Rangers +260
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Rangers - Red Sox preview
The Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox will begin a three-game series at Fenway Park on Friday in a significant set for the home team.
The Red Sox are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees this week that dropped Boston out of the American League Wild Card race. The Yankees vaulted one game ahead of their arch rivals and pushed the Red Sox to 6.5 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the American League East on a three-game losing streak.
Boston’s lineup was silenced by the Yankees rotation, scoring only five combined runs. Xander Bogaerts hit a home run in the first inning, but Boston couldn’t do much more offensively in the 5-2 loss in the series finale on Wednesday.
But back home the Red Sox go to the friendly confines of Fenway Park. Chris Sale will make his second start on the mound with Boston since undergoing Tommy John Surgery almost two years ago.
The lanky left-hander had eight strikeouts in five innings of work on Aug. 14 against the Baltimore Orioles, but did allow two home runs. Fortunately, that’s all Boston needed in the 16-2 victory.
It’s been a depressing season for the Rangers in that brand new Globe Life Field. The joke will forever remain that a World Series trophy has been handed out in that stadium before the Rangers ever played for it.
Even though the Rangers were swept by the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, Texas almost made the comeback of the day by scoring five runs in the ninth to tie it 7-7, but ultimately losing 9-8 in 11 innings.
The lone bright spot has been rookie outfielder Adolis Garcia, who belted his 27th home run of the year Thursday. The expected AL Rookie of the Year is batting .245, but has provided a fun pop from the right side of the plate.
Dane Dunning will take the mound for the Rangers in this matchup. The right-hander carries a 5-7 record with a 4.06 ERA through 21 starts in his second MLB season. Dunning has allowed five earned runs in his last three starts, including two in his last start Aug. 13 against the Oakland A’s.
Betting trends
What could have been if the Rangers were at least decent on the road. Texas is 14-45 away from Globe Life Field, and the Rangers are 1-8 on the road when Dunning starts.
The Rangers are 0-6 when an underdog of +200 or more.
Boston is 5-0 when a favorite of -200 or more.
Prediction
The Red Sox had an off day while the Rangers came off an extra-innings game while traveling cross-country. Boston should win this game rather easily. Red Sox win 9-4.
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
