MLB Baseball
2012-04-18 - Texas Rangers at Boston Red Sox
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Wednesday 18 April 2012 - First Pitch 7:10pm ET
12:10am (British Standard Time)
Preview
The Texas Rangers (9-2) are showing no signs of slowing down in a long season as they hammered the Boston Red Sox (4-7) last night and complete their two game series here at Fenway Park. The Rangers scored 18 runs last night, the most by an opposing team at this ballpark since the New York Yankees managed 22 in June 2000.
The Bobby Valentine era in Boston has not started off as expected, with the manager getting under the skin of some of his players and Jacoby Ellsbury looking like he might miss the rest of the season with a recent injury.
Boston will send Josh Beckett to the mound in the hope that he can at least quieten the Rangers bats after last night. Beckett is 1-1 this season with a 5.68 ERA, but he did play well in his last start as he limited the Tampa Bay Rays to 1 run in 8 innings pitched.
However, Beckett has not enjoyed meeting the Rangers, going 0-1 from 3 career starts and a 7.79 ERA at Fenway Park.
Texas have now won 5 games in a row and they will be looking to open their season with a 5 game winning run on the road, something they haven't done for 23 years as they go in search of tying the franchise record of 6 straight road wins to open the season.
They will hand the ball to Derek Holland who is 1-0 this season with a 3.88 ERA. He is coming off a performance where he allowed just 2 runs in just over 7 innings pitched when the Rangers beat Seattle, and the pitcher will also look to his last performance in this ballpark when he allowed just 2 hits in over 7 innings pitched.
Head to Head
Texas won the season series between the two teams in 2011 by 6 games to 4.
They have not had the best record at Fenway Park where they are 18-39 over the last 57 games played here, although they have now won 3 of the last 4 in the series.
The Rangers have scored at least 7 runs in each of the last 4 games played at Fenway Park.
Boston are 1-2 in Game 2's this season, going 0-1 after a loss.
Texas are 2-1 in Game 2's, all coming after a win in Game 1.
Prediction
I am going to back the underdog Texas Rangers to win this game as their bats are clearly on form and I want to stick with them while they are hot.
They have had the better of Josh Beckett in the 3 career starts he has had against the Rangers at Fenway Park, while Derek Holland has been able to pitch well against the Red Sox.
With the Rangers scoring at least 7 runs in their last 4 visits to this ballpark, and playing as well as they are at the moment, I think they shouldn't be dogged in this game.
The Pick :
Boston Red Sox 4-6 Texas Rangers
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back the Texas Rangers @ 2.00
