Texas Rangers (58-71) vs. Boston Red Sox (63-68)
September 2, 2022 7:10 pm EDT
The Line: Boston Red Sox -200 / Texas Rangers +150; Over/Under: +9.5
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The Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox meet Friday in MLB action from Fenway Park. This will be the second installment in a four-game weekend series. In the Thursday opener, the Red Sox pulled off a wild comeback victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Texas played a couple versus the Astros this week, losing both games 4-2 and 5-3. In the Thursday opener versus Boston, the Rangers had an 8-3 lead at one point but couldn’t hang on in a 9-8 loss. Glenn Otto put up 5.0 frames in the start with three earned on four hits and a walk.
As starter for the Friday matchup, the Rangers will go with Dallas Keuchel. Over his 13 games this season Keuchel is 2-8 with an 8.84 ERA. He has 39 Ks in 56.0 total innings.
Over on the Red Sox’ side, they played the Twins this week and lost two of three games. On Friday versus Texas, Boston posted six runs in the final two frames for their fourth walk-off win of the year. Starter Rich Hill went 4.0 innings with four earned, five hits and four walks.
Nick Pivetta will take the mound for the Red Sox on Friday. Over 26 starts total Pivetta is 9-10 with a 4.40 ERA. In 147.1 innings of work he’s got 72 earned, 54 walks, 140 hits and 143 Ks.
The Rangers are 15-37 in their last 52 Friday games and 8-26 in their last 34 versus the AL East. The over is 14-4 in Texas’ last 18 in game two of a series.
Meanwhile, the Sox are 20-6 in their last 26 versus the AL West and 14-6 in their last 20 versus a lefty starter. Boston is 5-13 in their last 18 in game two of a series.
PICK: I’m going to stay with the Sox. Both these pitchers could use a good outing, though. Pivetta is coming off five earned on eight hits and three walks in 5.0 frames versus the Rays. That said, Pivetta did put up just two earned over his previous 12.2 innings. As for Keuchel, he’s been struggling over his last pair with 14 earned runs in 7.2 frames total. I like Keuchel to take a step forward here but it’s probably still Boston’s advantage.
