So far, so good for the Boston Red Sox on their road trip. They opened by taking three of four from the Kansas City Royals. <\/p>\n
MLB Betting \u2013 Red Sox vs. Rangers Preview & Pick<\/strong> Boston Red Sox (77-49 through August 21)<\/strong> Their visit to Texas, though, should be a much bigger challenge. Boston is still without Clay Buchholz (back) on the pitching side; Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew remain on the DL; and David Ortiz and Jacoby Ellsbury may also sit out Tuesday\u2019s action with nagging injuries.<\/p>\n Now is as good a time as ever for John Lackey to step up and yank that ERA below 6.00. He\u2019s 5-1 since the All-Star break even though opponents are batting .314 off him and he has a 4.53 ERA over that stretch. But with so many Boston hitters nicked up, he probably can\u2019t count on his usual excellent run support Tuesday.<\/p>\n Texas Rangers (73-55 through August 21)<\/strong> The Texas Rangers are ready for home. They steamrolled the competition for the early part of their road trip but finished by losing three of four. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/p>\n At Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, the Rangers bat .293 and slug .503 as a team, so the likes of Michael Young and Josh Hamilton are licking their chops.<\/p>\n Colby Lewis may not be so happy. He hasn\u2019t been great in Texas this season, going 4-4 with a 5.15 ERA and an ugly 18 homers allowed in just 73.1 innings.<\/p>\n Under is 8-1 in BOS last 9 overall. Though Lewis has scuffled at home this season, he has a respectable 3.38 lifetime ERA against Boston. On the flipside, the Rangers own Lackey historically. They\u2019ve tuned him for a 6.07 ERA and 29 homers in 184 innings.<\/p>\n The numbers for some Texas hitters against Lackey are eye-popping. Hamilton bats .478 with three homers and seven RBI in 23 at-bats; Ian Kinsler sits at .480 with three homers and seven RBI over 25 at-bats; and Young hits .360 with 15 driven in over 89 at-bats. These guys mash Lackey.<\/p>\n Since Lackey also won\u2019t have a fully healthy lineup backing him, the Rangers look like a great choice for Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\nDate: <\/strong>Tuesday, August 23, 2011
\nVenue: <\/strong>Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, TX
\nBroadcast: <\/strong>NESN, FSH
\nBoston Red Sox at Texas Rangers Betting Lines from BetOnline.com<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: Texas -152<\/strong>
\nOver\/Under: 7<\/strong>
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\nJohn Lackey (11-9, 6.02)<\/p>\n
\nColby Lewis (11-8, 3.83)<\/p>\nMLB Trends<\/h3>\n
\nUnder is 8-1 in BOS last 9 on grass.
\nBOS are 39-19 in their last 58 road games.
\nTEX are 16-5 in their last 21 home games.
\nTEX are 6-2 in their last 8 Tue. games.
\nTEX are 11-4 in their last 15 overall.
\nBOS are 5-16 in the last 21 meetings.<\/p>\nMLB Free pick: <\/h3>\n