Series Preview: Texas Rangers (63-44) @ Boston Red Sox (54-55)

Well today was certainly interesting. From Roy Oswalt refusing to pitch yesterday to Michael Young getting the start at shortstop tonight. Either way, the Rangers will look to press forward facing the Red Sox for the second time in two weeks.

Texas is looking for a bounce back from Yu Darvish and from Ryan Dempster who get back in action during this series.

Series at a Glance

Texas Record: 63-44 (1st AL West)
Boston Record: 48-48 (4th AL West, 10 GB)

Season Series: 4-1 Texas
Record at Boston: 2-0

Notable Transactions: December 9, 1994: The Boston Red Sox traded Otis Nixon and Luis Ortiz to the Texas Rangers for Jose Canseco.

Probable Starters:

Monday 6:10 CDT TEX: RHP Yu Darvish (11-7, 4.38 ERA/3.89 FIP) – BOS: RHP Aaron Cook (2-5, 5.27 ERA/5.57 FIP)

Tuesday 6:10 CDT TEX: RHP Ryan Dempster (5-5, 2.82 ERA/3.62 FIP with Chicago and Texas) – BOS: LHP Jon Lester (5-9, 5.36 ERA/4.12 FIP)

Wednesday 12:35 CDT TEX: LHP Matt Harrison (13-6, 3.17 ERA/3.75 FIP) – BOS: RHP Josh Beckett (5-9, 4.54 ERA/3.57 FIP)

Projected Red Sox Lineup

1 CF Jacoby Ellsbury (L)
2 LF Carl Crawford (L)
3 2B Dustin Pedroia
4 1B Adrian Gonzalez (L)
5 DH Cody Ross
6 C Jarrod Saltalamacchia (B)
7 3B Will Middlebrooks
8 RF Ryan Kalish (L)
9 SS Pedro Ciriaco

Bench
C Ryan Lavarnway
C Kelly Shoppach
IF Mike Aviles
IF Nick Punto (B)

Bullpen
CL RHP Alfredo Aceves
SU RHP Vicente Padilla
SU RHP Mark Melancon
MID LHP Andrew Miller
MID LHP Craig Breslow
LR RHP Junichi Tazawa

(source MLBDepthCharts)

For more information on the Red Sox see FanSided’s Red Sox page, BoSox Injection.