The Rangers haven’t generated much offense in dropping nine of their last 12 games, although they are coming off an 8-1 win over the Mariners on Sunday. Prior to that, they failed to score more than two runs in eight of their previous nine games. Their 113 runs are the fewest in the American League, and on Sunday they fired offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker, then hired Brett Boone as hitting coach.
Lucas Giolito will be on the mound for the Sox, making his second start. Nate Eovaldi, who pitched for the Sox from 2018-22, gets the nod for the Rangers.
Here is a preview.
RANGERS (17-18): Smith 1B, Langford LF, Seager SS, Pederson DH, Semien 2B, Garcia RF, Carter CF, Heim C, Jung 3B.
Pitching: RHP Nate Eovaldi (2-2, 2.11 ERA)
RED SOX (18-18): Duran LF, Devers DH, Bregman 3B, Campbell 2B, Abreu RF, Story SS, Toro 1B, Narváez C, Rafaela CF.
Pitching: RHP Lucas Giolito (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
Time: 6:45 p.m.
TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
Rangers vs. Giolito: Tucker Barnhart 0-1, Adolis García 2-12, Jonah Heim 0-9, Joc Pederson 3-6, Corey Seager 3-10, Marcus Semien 6-20, Josh Smith 0-2, Leody Taveras 1-2
Red Sox vs. Eovaldi: Wilyer Abreu 3-4, Alex Bregman 4-18, Kristian Campbell 0-2, Rafael Devers 2-11, Jarren Duran 2-6, David Hamilton 1-4, Ceddanne Rafaela 0-4, Rob Refsnyder 0-3, Trevor Story 1-5, Abraham Toro 0-5, Connor Wong 4-9
Stat of the day: The Red Sox are 4-9 in one-run games. The nine losses in such games are the most in the majors this season.
Notes: The Red Sox have lost four of their last five games by a combined five runs. … Giolito is 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA in six career appearances against Texas. … Red Sox starting pitchers have gone at least five innings in each of their last 16 games beginning April 18, going 6-3 with a 3.25 ERA and 94 strikeouts in that span. … Eovaldi is 3-1 with a 5.03 ERA in 11 career games (10 starts) against his former team. He got a no-decision in a 5-2 loss to the Sox on Opening Day when he allowed two runs on three hits and struck out nine in six innings … The Sox have lost seven consecutive games decided by three runs or fewer, after winning each of their previous five.
Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney.
