The 2024 season hasn’t gone according to plan for the Texas Rangers, but reinforcements are on the way, and the team will be playing at home against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, looking to get some late-season momentum going in MLB projections.
In 2023, they averaged an American League-best 5.5 runs per game and roughly 1.5 home runs per game, then rose to 5.9 runs per game and roughly 1.9 home runs per game, but this season their home runs average has dropped to 4.2 runs per game, good for 20th in the league.
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There are many reasons for the decline in production, but Josh Jiang’s absence from April 2 until the team’s final series against the St. Louis Cardinals in July was a major factor in the decline. Jiang batted .266 with 23 home runs last season.
The reinvigorated Rangers are looking to take out their frustrations on Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta, who has allowed at least three runs in seven of his past nine starts. Pivetta has a 4.47 ERA and 1.7 home runs per nine innings this season.
The Red Sox bullpen is also starting to fall apart. The team entered Saturday with a 5.15 bullpen ERA, ranking 28th in the league.
Though the Red Sox have struggled on the mound, their offense is in top form, averaging a league-best 6.7 runs per game in the 13 games played since the All-Star break through Saturday.
The Red Sox must field former starter Nathan Eovaldi on Sunday, who hasn’t walked a batter in his last five starts but has a 3.38 ERA this season and has allowed a combined 11 runs in his last three starts.
The Rangers’ relievers had a 4.41 ERA through Saturday, good for 27th in the division, and with John back in the mix, there should be plenty of fireworks on the offensive side of things on Sunday.
MLB Picks: Red Sox vs Rangers 8+
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