The Texas Rangers host the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day on Thursday, March 27. First pitch from Globe Life Field is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. EDT; the game will be broadcast on NESN, Rangers Sports Network, Victory+ and MLB.TV.
After back-to-back years without a playoff appearance, the Red Sox reached into their pockets to sign All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman and trade for fireballer Garrett Crochet, who gets the start on Opening Day against Texas' Nathan Eovaldi. As for the Rangers, they will hope for a healthy year in a wide-open AL West, where they are the favorites to win the title.
Find my Red Sox vs Rangers predictions and prop picks in my Opening Day preview for Thursday, March 27, below.
My Red Sox vs Rangers Prediction
- Red Sox vs Rangers picks: Red Sox ML -115 (play to -145)
My Red Sox vs Rangers best bet is on Boston moneyline. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Red Sox vs Rangers Odds, Predictions, Best Bets
| Red Sox Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +143 | 8 -110o / -110u | -125 |
| Rangers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -170 | 8 -110o / -110u | +105 |
- Red Sox vs Rangers Moneyline: Red Sox -125, Rangers +105
- Red Sox vs Rangers Total: 8 (-110/-110)
- Red Sox vs Rangers Spread: Red Sox -1.5 (+143), Rangers +1.5 (+105)
- Red Sox vs Rangers Best Bet: Red Sox Moneyline
Red Sox vs Rangers Preview, Prediction, Lineup
Red Sox Betting Preview: All Eyes on Crochet
Red Sox Starting Lineup
- LF Jarren Duran
- DH Rafael Devers
- 3B Alex Bregman
- 1B Triston Casas
- SS Trevor Story
- 2B Kristian Campbell (MLB debut)
- RF Wilyer Abreu
- C Connor Wong
- CF Ceddanne Rafaela
- Starting Pitcher: Garrett Crochet
Boston will hand the ball to its prized pitching acquisition, Crochet. The final few months of his year were a bit messy — he was on a pitch count, and the White Sox were historically bad, so he had nothing to pitch for. Crochet should return to 2.69 FIP and 12.8 K/9 form in a new location.
Crochet carried his dominance into Spring Training, leading to plenty of optimism. The southpaw picked 15 ⅔ innings with 30 strikeouts and a 0.57 ERA. I could see Crochet contending for the CY Young, and he'll have a favorable matchup to begin his Sox tenure.
Boston has a pretty stacked lineup, as well. The table setter is 2024 All-Star MVP Jarren Duran, with slugger Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman behind him. That's about as formidable a top-three as you'll see in MLB. Duran is possibly the sport's most underrated player. He just finished a season as a top-10 player in the American League and should be in that range again. He's the straw that stirs the drink for Boston's lineup.
The Red Sox also brought in some bullpen reinforcements. The well-traveled Aroldis Chapman slots in as the likely closer, fresh off a spring where he posted a 2.45 ERA. The other option is Liam Hendriks. After missing a season due to Tommy John surgery, Hendriks is still working to get back into form, but should be a solid back-end of the bullpen option. I also have high hopes for Justin Slaten, a former rule-five pick who shined last year, and Garrett Whitlock, who is back in a multi-inning reliever role.
Rangers Betting Preview: Can Texas Get to Crochet?
Rangers Starting Lineup
- 2B Marcus Semien
- DH Corey Seager
- LF Wyatt Langford
- RF Adolis Garcia
- 1B Jake Burger
- 3B Josh Jung
- CF Kevin Pillar
- C Kyle Higashioka
- SS Josh Smith
- Starting Pitcher: Nathan Eovaldi
The Rangers lineup several lefties at the top of the batting order. That sounds like a brutal day waiting to happen against one of the sport's premier hurlers. One of their few newcomers, Joc Pederson, is strictly a platoon bat, while the lefty-lefty duel could neutralize Corey Seager and Josh Smith.
Texas had some real offensive woes last year, sitting 22nd in wRC+. Sure, injuries played a role, but the Rangers didn't make any real moves to help improve their lineup. Texas will be good if Seager and Marcus Semien put together All-Star caliber years. If not, it could be another inconsistent season for the Rangers' bats. Facing a CY Young candidate in the first game of the year is a pretty difficult start.
The biggest addition is Jake Burger, who comes over from the Marlins. Burger is a former teammate of Crochet during his days on the Southside, but Burger punched out 25.9% of the time last year. He's a swing-happy bat that will likely struggle versus Crochet's extreme velocity.
Taking the hill for the Rangers is 35-year-old righty Nathan Eovaldi. Last year, Eovaldi posted a 3.80 ERA and 3.83 FIP, but his HR/9 rate jumped, and his BB/9 rate dropped. Despite being a vastly inferior pitcher compared to Crochet, Eovaldi still provides experience and innings.
My biggest concern about Texas is its bullpen, which is very shaky on paper. Former Red Sox pitcher Chris Martin is the projected closer to replace All-Star Kirby Yates. He's never been a regular closer, but everybody else in the pen is a mediocre journeyman: Shawn Armstrong, Jacob Webb, and Luke Jackson.
The Rangers made good moves with lefty hurlers, though. Robert Garcia, the return for first baseman Nate Lowe, struck out 75 batters in 59 innings last year, and Hoby Milner is a ground ball machine.
Eventually, the Rangers will have a chance to contend for the AL West, but they appear overmatched in this game, as Boston holds the advantage in the lineup, pitching matchup, and bullpen.
Red Sox vs Rangers Prediction
Pick: Red Sox ML -115 (Play to -145)
Moneyline
As I outlined above, I like the Red Sox moneyline and I'd play it to -145.
Run Line (Spread)
I see no value on the Red Sox spread and am sticking to the moneyline.
Over/Under
Like the run line, I'm passing on the game total.
