MLB Odds: BoSox, Rangers begin weekend series

Josh Beckett was ineffective in an April home start against the Rangers.

The Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers have similar records, but their playoff fortunes are far different as they begin a weekend series Friday night in Arlington.

The Rangers are 65-48 and coming off a two-game home split with the Yankees. They had a tough 7-6 loss Wednesday night, blowing a 6-1 lead with ace Cliff Lee on the mound. Closer Neftali Feliz had just his third blown save of the year by allowing two runs in the ninth.

Texas has a day off to clear its mind and is 6-2 in its last eight games following an off day.  It’s also 6-2 in its last eight opening games of a series.

The Rangers are 4-5 in August, but still have a 7 ½-game lead over the L.A. Angels in the AL West. Texas would reach 90 wins playing .500 baseball the rest of the way. The Angels would have to win over 67 percent of their games to reach 90 victories.

Boston (66-49) has virtually the same record as Texas, but is much more desperate. It trails New York by five games in the AL East and Tampa Bay by 3 ½ in the wild card.

The Red Sox are going for a three-game sweep Thursday night at the Blue Jays and are 9-2 against them this year. Boston is 7-2 its last nine road games and 32-26 for the season.

Texas native Josh Beckett (3-2, 6.21 ERA) will get the start Friday night. He’s coming off a very disappointing Sunday outing at the Yankees, seven earned runs over 4 2/3 innings. Boston really needed that game, but Beckett now has an 11.17 ERA in four Yankees starts this year.

The 30-year-old righty has made four starts since returning from a two-month back injury. He had a 2.18 ERA in the first three games against lighter-hitting Cleveland, Seattle and the L.A. Angels.

Beckett is getting skewed in the Boston media for coming up small in big games. He already got hammered at home against Texas in April (seven earned runs over seven innings). However, he’s 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three lifetime starts at Texas.

Tommy Hunter (9-1, 3.01 ERA) will oppose Beckett. He went 9-6 last year with a 4.10 ERA. He didn’t make an MLB start this year until June 5 due to an oblique injury.

The 24-year-old righty has 10 quality starts in 12 tries. One of the failures was when he had to leave early with an injury. He also got bombed at the Angels (eight earned in three innings) two starts ago before throwing 6 1/3 scoreless at Seattle last Thursday.

Hunter got a win at Fenway Park on July 15, surrendering two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. He also beat Boston last year at home (one earned over six innings). Texas is 6-1 in his home starts this year (2.53 ERA). He’ll be pitching on three extra days rest.

Texas is 4-3 in the seven meetings this year, all in Boston. Boston always seems to struggle in Texas and went 1-5 there last year. The MLB betting ‘under’ is 6-1 in the last seven meetings in the Lone Star State.

Both teams are missing their All-Star second basemen. Dustin Pedroia has a foot injury and Ian Kinsler a groin.

First pitch for Friday night is 5:05 p.m. (PT). Weather will be hot per usual, in the mid-to-upper 90s.