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The surging Rangers begin an interesting four-game series with the Red Sox in Boston Monday night. How are we playing this game with our free MLB pick?
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<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
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Monday's MLB betting odds opened Boston at around -230 over Texas, with an over/under of 8.5 runs. Early betting action then pushed that line as much as a quarter, up to around -255, and dipped that total to eight.
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<h2>
Rangers vs. Red Sox Set-Up<br />
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<p>
Texas just split four games at home with Oakland over the weekend, losing Sunday's series finale 9-8. The Rangers trailed Sunday 8-0 in the fourth inning, then rallied and had the winning run on base in the bottom of the ninth before succumbing.
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Just before that Texas took two of three games at home from Baltimore; just before that the Rangers took three of four at home from Kansas City; and just before that they took two of three in Seattle. So Texas is 3-0-1 over its last four series and 9-4 over its last 13 games.
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<p>
At 34-30 overall the Rangers trail division-leading Houston by 9.5 games in the AL West but they also now own the second American League wild-card spot, one game clear of, as it happens, third-place Boston.
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The Red Sox, meanwhile, just lost three of four games at home to Tampa Bay over the weekend, falling Sunday 6-1. Just before that Boston swept three games from the Royals in KC, but just before that the Sox dropped two of three against the Yanks, Cleveland, and Houston. So Boston is just 1-4 over its last five series and 7-9 over its last 16 games.
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At 34-32 overall the Sox trail the Yankees and Rays by seven games in the AL East, but as mentioned above they're only one game back in the battle for that second American League wild-card slot.
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This series is the first meeting between these two teams this season. Last year Boston took the season series from Texas six games to one.
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<h2>
Monday's Starting Arms<br />
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Lefty Sale is 7/13 on quality starts this season and two for his last three. Last Wednesday he tossed a three-hit, complete-game shutout, with 12 strikeouts against zero walks, in an 8-0 Red Sox victory over Kansas City. And over his last three starts, he's allowed eight runs – six earned - and 13 hits through 21 innings, with 27 whiffs.
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The Sox are just 4-9 with Sale this season, and 1-2 over his last three starts, although that's not all his fault.
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In two starts last season against the Rangers Sale allowed just one run through 14 innings, with 24 strikeouts. The Sox won both those games.
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Fellow southpaw Minor is also 7/13 on quality starts this season, and while he's only two for his last six, some of that has to do with a short leash. Last Wednesday he held Baltimore scoreless on seven hits through 5 2/3 innings of a 2-1 Texas victory. And over his last five starts, he's only allowed seven runs on 34 hits through 27 2/3 innings.
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The Rangers are 6-7 with Minor this season, 1-2 over his last three starts, but like Sale that's not all his fault. Texas bats have scored exactly two runs for him his last three times out.
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In two starts last year against the Red Sox Minor allowed five runs and 13 hits through 11 1/3 innings. The Rangers split those two games.
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<h2>
Monday's Batting Splits<br />
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Texas is batting .240/.310/.415 against left-handed pitching this season. But this unit is operating without Joey Gallo (17 HR), who's on the DL with a strained oblique.
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Boston is batting .242/.312/.425 against LH pitching this season. But this unit might be without JD Martinez (12 HR), who's missed recent action with a sore back.
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<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
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The Rangers bullpen owns a 4.75 ERA this season and a 1.44 WHIP.
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The Red Sox pen owns a 4.08 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.
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<h2>
Totals Report<br />
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Overs are 32-31 in Rangers games this season.
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Overs are 36-28 in Red Sox games this season.
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Overs are 17-13 in games played at Fenway Park this season.
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Unders are a combined 18-8 in games started by Sale and Minor this season.
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Unders finished 4-3 in Rangers-Red Sox games last season.
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<p><section></p>
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<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1078153">Texas Rangers at Boston Red Sox MLB Match-up Stats </a> </span>
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