The Texas Rangers host the Boston Red Sox in MLB action on Saturday. The Red Sox have been red-hot at the plate since the All-Star break and my Red Sox vs. Rangers predictions expect them to keep mashing. Here are my best MLB picks for August 3.
Red Sox vs Rangers prediction
My best bet
Red Sox team total Over 4.5 (+110 at DraftKings)
My analysis
The Texas Rangers rotation has been decimated by injuries which will force Cody Bradford into a spot start today. Bradford is a talented young lefty but after three solid starts to begin the year, he hit the 60-day IL with a rib stress fracture. He came off the IL five days ago and made a relief appearance on Tuesday where he surrendered five runs in just two innings against St. Louis.
Bradford is clearly not 100% or ready for a full workload, so expect plenty of relievers to get work today. Unfortunately for the Rangers, their bullpen is just 27th in the majors in ERA (4.41) and 24th in FIP (4.30).
Those arms will have a tough time navigating a Boston Red Sox lineup that is second in the majors in batting average (.261) and third in OPS (.769). Boston has been even better lately, batting .304 with an OPS of .908 since the All-Star break. The Red Sox scored 11 runs on 16 hits last night and they are now averaging 7.17 runs per game over the last two weeks.
Boston is sending All-Star Tanner Houck to the mound but he has really struggled lately, pitching to a 5.26 ERA with an OBA of .277 in his last five starts. That makes it hard for me to trust him, even against a subpar Rangers offense. However, I do trust this surging Red Sox lineup to keep plating runs.
Red Sox vs Rangers same-game parlay (SGP)
Red Sox team total Over 4.5
Tanner Houck Over 1.5 walks allowed
Marcus Semien Under 1.5 total bases
Houck has been getting hit hard lately and he's also been struggling with his control. He has walked 3+ batters in his last four starts, posting a whopping 14 walks in 21 1/3 innings over that span.
Semien is a three-time All-Star but he's struggled against right-handed pitchers, slashing just .226/.295/.384. The second baseman also has a history of being owned by Houck, picking up just a single and striking out three times in eight at-bats.
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Red Sox vs Rangers odds
Red Sox vs Rangers live odds
Red Sox vs Rangers opening odds
- Run line: Boston -1.5 (+140) | Texas +1.5 (-165)
- Moneyline: Boston -120 | Texas +100
- Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Red Sox vs Rangers spread and Over/Under analysis
- Early money has come in on the Rangers and the Over, shifting the line to a pick'em and moving the total to 8.
- The Red Sox have won three of their last four games to improve to 58-50 while the Rangers are 1-6 in their last seven contests.
- Houck had a 2.18 ERA with a 0.97 WHIP through his first 16 starts of the year but has a 5.26 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP in his last five outings.
- The Rangers are batting just .226 since the break while ranking 20th in the majors in BA (.239) and 22nd in OPS (.688) on the season.
Red Sox vs Rangers trend
The Red Sox have gone Over their team total in 33 of their last 50 road games (+12.45 units / 21% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Rangers.
Red Sox vs Rangers game info
| Location: | Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX |
| Date: | Saturday, 8-3-2024 |
| First pitch: | 7:05 p.m. ET |
| TV: | NESN, Bally Sports Southwest |
| Red Sox starting pitcher: | Tanner Houck (8-7, 2.79 ERA) |
| Rangers starting pitcher: | Cody Bradford (3-0, 3.38 ERA) |
Red Sox vs Rangers latest injuries
Red Sox vs Rangers weather
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