Red Sox vs. Rangers Sunday Prediction
The Boston Red Sox will send ace Chris Sale to the mound on Sunday in efforts to pick up a series win against the Texas Rangers. The home team, meanwhile, will counter with Doug Fister in attempts to earn a series split.
Game Snapshot & Odds
923 Boston Red Sox (-240) at 924 Texas Rangers (+210); 8.5 runs
Sunday, May 6, 2018
3:05 p.m. ET, Globe Life Park in Arlington
TV: BOS (NESN); TEX (FSSW)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Red Sox as a -240 favorite. As of this writing, 70% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Red Sox to beat the Rangers on the money line. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Red Sox’ Sale strong for seven innings vs. Royals
Chris Sale allowed two runs — one earned — over seven innings Tuesday in a no-decision against the Royals. The Red Sox aren’t doing much offensively for Sale, which is why he’s 2-1 despite a 2.14 ERA in seven starts. He still wasn’t at his very best tonight, but his not-at-his-best is still very, very good. It seems like the plan is for him to save as much as he can for October.
Rangers’ Fister does nice job vs. Indians
Doug Fister surrendered just two unearned runs over 6 2/3 frames in Tuesday’s 8-6 extra-innings win over the Indians. The runs were unearned because of Fister’s own throwing error in the seventh inning. The sinkerballer gave up six hits and a couple walks while fanning four on the night, throwing 105 pitches. He lost out on a win when the Indians knotted things up in the ninth. Too many walks have led to a 1.48 WHIP, but Fister holds a 2.88 ERA across his first five starts. Regression figures to be coming soon, and it seems likely to start Sunday against the Red Sox.
MLB Betting Trends
Boston
The Red Sox are 8-2 in their last 10 games against the Rangers.
Texas
The over has cashed in seven of the last 10 meetings between these two teams.
Prediction:
The Red Sox are too expensive and I don’t trust Fister to handle Boston’s lineup like he did Cleveland’s so I’ll roll the dice on the over. In Sale’s last 13 starts, the over is 10-3. In his last eight road outings, the over is 6-2. In the Red Sox last 13 games against American League West opponents, the over is 9-4. On the other side, the over is 7-1-1 in the Rangers’ last nine games, is 5-0 in their last five home games versus a left-handed starter and is 4-0 in their last four games coming off a loss.
The Pick: Red Sox/Rangers over 8.5