Texas Rangers vs Boston Red Sox Pick, Prediction, Odds and Preview, August 21: MLB

Texas Rangers vs Boston Red Sox Pick, Prediction, Odds and Preview, August 21: MLB

Odds
Time 7:10 p.m. EST
Rangers money line +285
Rangers run line +1.5 (+145)
Red Sox money line -345
Red Sox run line -1.5 (-169)
Over / under 9.5 (-110)

 

Key stats
  Rangers Red Sox
Record 42-80 70-54
Road / home record 14-46 38-24
Last 10 record 3-7 5-5
Streak L4 W1
Over / under record 59-58-5 54-67-3
Runs / game 3.76 4.97
Runs allowed / game 4.98 4.54

 

Preview

The Boston Red Sox host the Texas Rangers at Fenway in the second of a three game series Saturday night.  The Rangers are awful, and even more awful away, with a 14-46 record, while the Red Sox have a 38-24 record at home.  The Rangers are 2nd to the bottom in the AL, only ahead of the Orioles, while the Red Sox are 5.5 back in the AL East and fighting for a Wild Card spot.  The Rangers took 3 of 4 in the first series between these teams back in April / May. 

The Rangers have dropped 4 straight, only scoring 10 runs in those games (one an 8 run game in 11).  They've only won 3 games in their last 16.

The Red Sox were swept against the Yankees before this relief of a series vs the lowly Rangers, and took the opener 6-0 last night.  Before the sweep by the Yankees, they swept the Orioles, scoring 30 runs in those 3 games.

Pitching matchup

Rangers

Jordan Lyles (5-10, 5.55 ERA), the veteran, takes the ball for the Rangers.  He comes off a 7.02 ERA 2020, and has hit a rough patch in August.  He's allowed 5+ earned runs in his three August starts, going a combined 17.0 innings, with 17 earned runs on 27 hits and 7 walks.  In May he went 4.0 innings against the Red Sox, giving up 5 earned runs on 6 hits and 3 walks.  Red Sox batters have gone 7 for 28 (.250 AVG), with 2 home runs and 7 walks against Lyles.

Red Sox

Eduardo Rodriguez (9-6, 4.97 ERA) will pitch for the Red Sox.  Conversely to Lyles, he's had a great August.  In his 3 starts, he's gone a combined 16.1 innings, giving up only 2 earned runs on 9 hits and 8 walks, striking out 24 batters, almost 1.5 per inning.  He didn't have a great game against the Rangers in May, going 5.0 innings, giving up 4 earned runs on 8 hits and 1 walk.  The Red Sox lost that game 8-6.  Rangers batters have gone 8 for 25 (.320 AVG) against Rodriguez, with 1 home run and 2 walks.

Prediction

This is a big line at -345.  Lyles has been terrible in August, while Rodriguez has been good.  The Rangers are only 14-46 away and have dropped 4 straight with 10 runs in those game.  The Red Sox desperately needed this series after getting swept by the Yankees.  They show up against bad teams, having swept the Orioles and winning 6-0 last night.  Despite the big juice on the run line, we think the Red Sox will pound Lyles early and get up big.

PICK: Red Sox -1.5 (-169)

Find more sports picks from the top sports bettors and MLB experts all in one place using our iOS and Google Play apps, as well as our other articles at Kingpin.pro.  We are the home for MLB picks, sports picks and sports betting.

Winnings $84,090
last 30 days winnings $0
Yesterday winnings $0
Top Sport MLB
W-L-D 1285 - 1108 - 96
Winnings % 51%
Winnings $78,930
last 30 days winnings $930
Yesterday winnings ($1,500)
Top Sport MLB
W-L-D 613 - 397 - 11
Winnings % 59%