Rangers vs Red Sox Pick: Former BoSox Pitcher Eovaldi Starts at Fenway (May 6)

• In our Rangers vs Red Sox pick, we look at two teams hovering around .500 meeting at Fenway Park
• Former BoSox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi starts for the Rangers; Boston responds with Lucas Giolito in his second start of the season
• The Rangers are 17-18 and in 4th place in the AL West; the Red Sox are 18-18 and in 2nd place in the AL East

Texas Turns to Eovaldi, Having Lost 7 of 9

Ten days ago, the Rangers had a record of 15-11. They were in 1st place in the AL West. Since then, they have gone 2-7 to fall below .500. In that time, they lost 3 of 4 to the surprising division rival Athletics. Then they lost 2 of 3 to another division rival, the Mariners.

Texas won the World Series in 2023 but fell to 78-84 in 2024, an understandable championship hangover. However, they are playing similarly to 2024.

Eovaldi has been among the best pitchers in MLB so far this season. He has an ERA of 2.11, has thrown 42.2 innings, given up 30 hits, and 10 earned runs. He’s struck out 46 and walked 3.

Several Red Sox hitters have had great success against Eovaldi.

Wilyer Abreu is 3 for 4 with 2 home runs. Alex Bregman is 10 for 32 with 2 homers. Jarren Duran is 2 for 6 with a home run. Trevor Story is 1 for 5 with a home run. Connor Wong is 4 for 9 with 2 doubles.

Key Rangers are struggling at the plate. Joc Pederson signed a 2-year, $37 million contract in the offseason and is batting a near-impossible .094 with no home runs and 1 RBI. He’s managed a -1.3 bWAR. It’s May.

Marcus Semien is hitting .182 with 2 homers.

Wyatt Langford has a .921 OPS with 6 homers.

Giolito Continues on the Comeback Trail

Red Sox righty Lucas Giolito missed the entire 2024 season with elbow surgery. He has made one start in 2025, going 6 innings against the Blue Jays, surrendering 5 hits and 3 earned runs, striking out 7. He pitched well despite the loss.

Against Giolito, the Rangers’ Adolis Garcia is 2 for 12 with a home run. Pederson is 3 for 6 with a double. Corey Seager is 3 for 10 with a double and a home run.

The Red Sox have lost 4 of 5 to fall to .500. Fortunately for them, the Yankees are having issues as well. Eventually, Boston’s Tristan Casas will start hitting. He’s currently at .182 with a .580 OPS. Bregman is an early-season MVP candidate with a .979 OPS, a major league-leading 13 doubles, and 8 home runs. Abreu has 7 homers and a .916 OPS. Rafael Devers is getting his game together.

Rangers vs Red Sox Pick: Texas Beats the BoSox Behind Eovaldi

Eovaldi is experienced in Boston from his five years as a Red Sox and has been brilliant this season. Pitchers returning from a long layoff tend to have ups and downs, and Giolito might experience that. The Rangers will win this one and drop Boston below .500.