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After dropping two of a three game set and slipping to a mere half-game lead against their arch rivals this past week, the Boston Red Sox will try to get back on the rails with their upcoming series against the Texas Rangers who have won four out of their last six to maintain a 3 1/2 game lead atop the AL West.
Date/Time: Saturday, September 3, 4:10 P.M. ET
Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, MA.
Broadcast: FOX
Texas Rangers vs Boston Red Sox Betting Lines
Money Line: Boston Red Sox -155, Texas Rangers +135
Spread: Boston Red Sox -1.5
Over/Under: 9.5
The Rangers will hope that Adrian Beltre’s first trip back to Fenway, where he hit .314 with 13 homers in 75 games last season continues trending in that direction.
The slugging third baseman was just 10 for 56 in 16 trips to Fenway with the Dodgers and Mariners before having an outstanding 2010 with Boston. But will his woes continue as a visitor?
He’s 4 for 17 against expected Game 2 starter Erik Bedard.
Bedard (4-9, 3.45) was just three outs away from his first Red Sox victory last Saturday, but the game was halted in the fifth inning due to rain from Hurricane Irene. The game resumed an hour late but the Red Sox decided to lift Bedard in lieu of reliever Alfredo Aceves.
Despite another no decision, Bedard was impressive once again, following up with a two hit performance after overcoming four walks in four scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics his next time out. In 26 innings over five starts with the Red Sox, he has a 3.46 ERA.
Now he will face a red-hot Texas lineup that includes perennial slugger Josh Hamilton who has hit in 27 of the last 34 games and is batting .306 since July 1 as well as designated hitter Michael Young who hit his 11th home run of the season against Tampa Bay on Thursday and is expected to remain in the cleanup spot despite Beltre’s return to the lineup. It was Young’s fourth homer in 268 at-bats in the cleanup spot this year.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox will hope to get big lift on Friday with the expected return of third baseman Kevin Youkilis who rejoins teammate David Ortiz, who is hitting .500 (28-for-56) with seven homers and 16 RBIs during a season-high 15-game hitting streak, and Dustin Pedroia who hit his career-best 18th homer on Thursday.
However, they will have to face Texas’ pitching ace Colby Lewis(11-9, 4.19) who is 2-2 lifetime against the Sox in six starts with an ERA of 4.50 but a WHIP of 1.29.
Pedroia is 1 for 6 against Lewis while Youkilis is 2 for 3 as is Ortiz who has three RBIs and a home run.
The odds makers have the Boston Red Sox as a -1.5 point favorite with an run total of 9.5.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Texas- Despite having home field advantage, the Red Sox will struggle against Lewis. If they Rangers can get continued offensive production from Hamilton, Beltre and Young, Lewis can provide the rest.
Need more help making your picks winners? Check out our top handicappers.
Boston Red Sox Betting Trends:
Boston is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Boston’s last 18 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Boston’s last 10 games at home
Boston is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games when playing Texas
Texas Rangers Betting Trends:
Texas is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Texas’s last 10 games on the road
Texas is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games on the road
Texas is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games when playing Boston
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