MLB Odds: Rangers Take On Battered Boston

Despite an injury list that stretches from West Fens to the North End, the Red Sox have are still in the thick of the AL East race. Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez and Josh Beckett are just a third of the current DL chart that manager Terry Francona is dealing with as Boston begins a four-game series with Texas. The Rangers hit Fenway Park on top of the AL Wast but coming off an embarrassing sweep at home to the Orioles.

Last I checked, the supposed curse afflicting the Boston Red Sox was over.

It might not be the Curse of the Bambino, but there’s definitely something ailing the Red Sox (51-37 SU, +3.60 units) as they get ready to host the Texas Rangers (50-38 SU, -1.16 units) in a four-game series beginning on Thursday night at Fenway Park.



There’s the injury bug and then there’s the injury plague, and Boston bettors know exactly to what I’m referring. Heading into their series with the Rangers, the BoSox have nine players on the disabled list.

Boston is expected to get Adrian Beltre (hamstring) back in the lineup for the opener (7:10 p.m. ET), and while Mike Cameron (sore right wrist) is questionable, that’s where the good news ends.

Bettors looking to play the Red Sox as +100 moneyline underdogs on the MLB betting odds board for Thursday night’s game – and for the rest of the series – should note that a slew of regulars remain sidelined for Boston.

Grab a comfortable chair and a cold Sam Adams. Here’s the rundown: Dustin Pedroia (broken left foot), Victor Martinez (broken left thumb), Jason Varitek (broken foot), Jacoby Ellsbury (left chest contusion), Jeremy Hermida (bruised ribs), and Mike Lowell (hip surgery) are the position players on the 15-day DL.

On the pitching staff, Clay Buchholz (strained left hamstring), Josh Beckett (lower back strain), and Manny Delcarmen (right forearm strain) are on the 15-day DL. Beckett and Delcarmen are scheduled to begin rehab assignments shortly, while Buchholz is set to start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday night.

Thing is, as much as the Red Sox have dealt with adversity, they’re right in the thick of the race in the American League East. Even with losses in five of its last seven games, Boston is only five games behind New York for first in the division.

Too bad the BoSox don’t play in the mediocre AL West like the Rangers. Texas was swept in a four-game set at home to Baltimore to head into the break to fall to 3-8 in its last 11 contests.

No matter: The Rangers are 4.5 games up on the second-place Angels in a division that also includes the pedestrian Athletics and lowly Mariners.

Working in Texas’ favor is its +74 run differential, which ranks it third in the AL behind New York and Tampa Bay. Boston is fourth at +73 despite its injury trouble and life in the AL East.

Tommy Hunter (5-0, 2.34 ERA) gets the call on Thursday night for the Rangers, who opened as -120 chalk at most sportsbooks. Texas is 6-1 against the moneyline in Hunter’s seven starts this season.

Hunter goes up against Tim Wakefield (3-7, 5.22 ERA) in the opener, and it finally looks like the knuckleballer is coming to the end of the road. The Rangers stole six bases off of Wakefield in their 7-6 loss at Boston (-120) on April 20, when he allowed six runs over six innings in a no-decision.

The total is listed at 9½ for Thursday night’s ballgame, and you have to like the ‘over’ with two of baseball’s best offenses playing in a very hitter-friendly park. Texas is also 5-2-1 O/U in its last eight road games.

Felix Doubrant (1-1, 4.22 ERA) takes the ball in place of Buchholz on Friday night (7:10 p.m. ET), while the Rangers turn to Colby Lewis (8-5, 3.33 ERA), who’s got a 2.87 ERA in night starts this season. Too bad Texas is only 7-6 in Lewis’ 13 outings under the lights.

Terry Francona had yet to announce his starter for Saturday night’s third game (7:10 p.m. ET) or Sunday afternoon’s finale (1:35 p.m. ET) as of press, but expect to see John Lackey (9-5, 4.78 ERA) and Jon Lester (11-3, 2.78 ERA) in that order.

The Red Sox get their first taste of Cliff Lee (8-4, 2.64 ERA) on Saturday, and as long as he’s not pitching for the Yankees, they’re happy. Lee went the distance to take the loss in the Rangers’ 6-1 defeat to the Orioles as -380 chalk last Saturday in his first start for his new team.

C.J. Wilson (7-5, 3.35 ERA) dusts off the rubber on Sunday in what could be a duel of lefthanders against Lester. Wilson tossed 6 2-3 scoreless innings in Texas’ 3-0 victory over Boston as +135 road underdogs on April 22.