TEXAS RANGERS NOTES:
WINS AND LOSSES: Texas lost the 2nd game of the series vs. BOS yesterday by a score of 4-2…TEX is now 1-1 in this 6-day, 6-game road trip (1-1 at BOS, 3 G at WSH) that takes the team through the All-Star break…team is 9-9 in last 18 G after a 2-7 span from 6/7-16…have an 11-16 record last 27 G beg. 6/7…club has won 22 of 40, 25 of 44, and 33 of last 56 G (beg. 5/6)…team still has A.L.-best 37-25 (.597) record since 4/28, 4th in MLB…TEX is 42-30 in last 72 G and 47-32 last 79 G (beg. 4/9).
- At 51-36 (.586), TEX owns the 4th-best record in MLB to ATL (.674, 58-28), TB (.640, 57-32), and BAL (.588, 50-35)… club’s 51 wins rank T3rd in MLB (58-ATL, 57-TB, 51-MIA).
- The 51-36 mark is the T3rd-best 87-G start to a season in Washington/Texas franchise history (see chart below).
- Tuesday’s win marked the earliest date for TEX to reach 51 wins in a season since 6/28/16 (51-27)…last season, TEX did not reach the 51-win mark until 8/14 vs. SEA…high point this season was 20-over after win 6/6 vs. STL (40-20).
WITH A WIN TODAY, Texas could:
- Secure their 1st series win since taking 2 of 3 G at CWS from 6/19-21, an 0-2-1 record in a span of 3 series (1-2 at NYY, 2-2 vs. DET, 1-3 vs. HOU).
- Record their 10th road series win of ’23 (10-4-0), improving to 18-8-2 in overall series this campaign.
- Improve to 8-3 in rubber matches this season (6-2 on road).
STANDINGS: Rangers enter today with a 2.0-game lead in the A.L. West over 2nd-place HOU for the 1st time since 5/28, with the team losing 3 G in the standings during recent 2-3 stretch…club had a season-best 6.5-G lead in West after win 6/23 at NYY, which was largest division lead since winning the West by 9.0 G in 2016…TEX has had sole possession of 1st place in the West for 60 straight, 67 of 68 and 80 of the last 82 days beg. 4/14.
- TEX has been alone or tied atop the division for 95 of the season’s first 96 days (exception: 4/8).
SERIES STUFF: After going 3-5 in their recent 8 G homestand (2-2 vs. DET, 1-3 vs. HOU), the Rangers have now lost consecutive homestands for the 1st time this season (also 3-4 from 6/12018 vs. LAA/TOR)…club had winning records in each of 1st 6 homestands in 2023…TEX has gone 2-4-1 in last 7 series after a stretch of 6 straight series victories from 5/19-6/7…those 6 straight series wins marked longest span for team since club-record 10 straight series victories from 5/20-6/20/16…club is 17-8-2 overall in series this year, going 8-4-2 at home and 9-4-0 on the road…is 13-5-2 in last 20 series and 16-6-2 in last 24…club is now 9-5 in series openers on the road, 15-13 overall.
- TEX has gone 9-4-0 in 13 road series this season.
ON THE ROAD: The Rangers have split the 1st 2 G of the series in BOS to start a 6-day, 6-G road trip (1-1 + 1 G at BOS and 3 G at WSH)…TEX is 24-18 (.571) on the road, the 2ndbest away record in the A.L./5th in MLB (ATL 28-13, .683; ARI 26-15, .634; BAL 24-17, .585; CIN 25-18, .581)…club is 5-6 in last 11 G away from Arlington, but has still won 11 of 19, 13 of 22, 15 of 25, and 18 of last 29 road G…13 road wins in May tied franchise record for a calendar month (also Aug. 2013)… club went 4-5 on the road in June.
VS. BOSTON: TEX owns a 1-1 record vs. BOS in ’23, as teams meet here (1-1 + 1 G) and at Globe Life Field (3 G from 9/18-20)…TEX was 1-6 vs. BOS in ’22, losing the season series for 5th time in 6 chances (4-3 in ’21)…have dropped 7 of 10 and 8 of 12 vs. BOS dating back to ’21, 11-24 since 2017…have gone 4-16 at Fenway beg. 7/6/16, losing 8 of 11.
ROSTER MOVES: The Texas Rangers announced the following roster moves before tonight’s game at Fenway Park:
- RHP José Leclerc activated from the 15-day Injured List.
- RHP Joe Barlow optioned to Round Rock (AAA).
- In recent rehab assignment with Frisco, Leclerc allowed 1 ER/2.0 IP and a .143 opp. BA over 2 games.
WELCOME BACK, NATHAN: Former Red Sox Nathan Eovaldi (2018-22) returns to Boston for the 1st time to face the team with which he won the 2018 World Series…in 5 seasons with BOS (including a 2021 All-Star Game selection), Eovaldi went 26-18 with a 4.05 ERA (208 ER/461.2 IP) and 48 SO in 96 games/84 starts…he also notched a 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA (15 ER/43.0 IP) in 11 postseason games with the Red Sox.
I REST MY CASE: Less than 2 hours after being named a participant in the 2023 HR Derby, Adolis García launched a 107.2 rocket that traveled 383 feet and over the right field fence for a 2-R HR (his 22nd of the season) that briefly brought the Rangers back to a 1-R deficit…García’s longest HR of 2023? 432 feet, 4/22 vs. OAK…his hardest hit HR of the year so far? 112.1 mph, 6/20 at CWS.
- Garcia’s 22 HR rank 3rd in the A.L. this season, with homers in 5 of his last 10 G…he has also homered in 3 consecutive games in 2 different occasions in ’23 (5/16-19 and 6/26-28).
SEAGER STREAK: Corey Seager yesterday extended his career-best 24-game on-base streak (prev. 21 G from 8/3- 27/17 w/ LAD), going 3-for-4 with a 2B…it is the longest active on-base streak in the A.L., 2nd-longest by a Ranger in ’23 (33-Marcus Semien)…Seager owns a .392 BA (38-97) w/ 17 XBH and a 1.113 OPS since the streak began on 6/10… yesterday was also his 9th G with at least 3 hits this season.
NEED THAT RISP: The Rangers still lead MLB with 513 R and 5.90 R/G, courtesy of a league leading .333 (170-for510) BA with RISP from the beg. of the season until the end of May (span of 55 G)…in 32 G since, TEX owns a .247 (76- 308) BA with RISP, the 10th-lowest mark in MLB.
DOUBLE UP: With doubles by Corey Seager and Nathaniel Lowe yesterday, TEX has 2 of the top 6 A.L. leaders in 2B this season…another team that also has 2 players in that same top 6? Boston (Duran and Verdugo, T2nd, 26)…in fact, BOS (194) and TEX (192) rank 1st and 2nd in doubles hit in MLB
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER – #17 Nathan Eovaldi, RHP (10-3, 2.64)
TONIGHT: The 33-year-old right-hander is scheduled to make his 18th start/appearance of the season in tonight’s series finale at Fenway Park…was named a 2023 All-Star last Sunday, marking his 2nd career All-Star nod (also 2021 w/ BOS)… former Red Sox hurler is currently ranked among qualified A.L. pitchers in wins (2nd, 10), innings (1st, 112.1), opp. GIDP (1st, 16), GIDP/9 (2nd, 1.28), opp. OPS (2nd, .615), WHIP (3rd, 0.99), BR/9 (3rd, 9.13), GB pct. (3rd, 52.4), HR/9 (3rd, 0.64), opp. BA (4th, .211), ERA (4th, 2.64), opp. SLG (4th, .349), opp. OBP (5th, .266), FIP (5th, 3.10), and BB/9 (9th, 2.16)…is 9-1, 2.05 ERA (22 ER/96.2 IP) over his last 14 starts beg. 4/18, leading MLB qualifiers in that span in innings, ERA, pitches-per-inning (14.3), opp. OPS (.565) and wins (tied)…earned victory last time out on 7/1 vs. HOU, snapping a string of 3 straight winless starts beg. 6/15 (see below)…Eovaldi signed a 2-year free agent contract with the Rangers on 12/27/22…in 2022, his final season with Boston, went 6-3 with a 3.87 ERA (47 ER/109.1 IP) over 20 G/GS…was slowed by a pair of IL stints: 6/9-7/14 (low back inflammation) and 8/19-9/28 (right shoulder inflammation)…was an All-Star with the Red Sox in 2021 and finished 4th in A.L. Cy Young Award voting… his Red Sox stint also included a historic postseason stretch during the team’s 2018 World Series run…has pitched for 6 teams in his career: LAD (2011-12), MIA (2012-14), NYY (2015-16), TB (2018), BOS (2018-22) and TEX (2023)…joins Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan as the only graduates of Alvin (TX) High School to reach the Major Leagues… TEX is 10-7 in Eovaldi’s 17 starts in ’23, winning 5 of 8 and 8 of last 12.
NASTY NATE: Has gone 10-3, 2.64 ERA in 17 starts this season…joined Lance Lynn as the 2nd TEX pitcher since 2013 with 10+ wins prior to the All-Star break (Lynn was
11-4 in 2019).
- Has 106 strikeouts and just 27 walks in 2023 (3.93 SO/BB figure ranks 12th among A.L. qualifiers), becoming the 3rd pitcher in franchise history w/ 106+ K’s and
27-or-fewer BB in his first 17 starts with the club (also: Lance Lynn in 2019 – 118 SO, 26 BB & Gaylord Perry in 1975 – 110 SO, 27 BB). - Remains the only MLB pitcher with multiple complete games in 2023, and his 2 CG’s this season are already the most by a Ranger since Mike Minor in 2019 (also 2).
- Eovaldi over his last 14 starts (beg. 4/18): 9-1, 2.05 ERA (22 ER/96.2 IP), 87 SO/24 BB, .189 opp. BA (63-333)…became the first TEX pitcher to amass 9+ wins and post an ERA of 2.05-or-lower over a 14-start span since Kenny Rogers from 4/6-6/17/05 (9-2, 1.98 in span)…leads MLB pitchers with 112.1 IP, the most frames covered by a Ranger in his first 17 starts of a season since Mike Minor in 2019 (112.2 IP).
LAST START: Earned team-leading 10th win last Sat. 7/1 in 2nd game of 4 vs. HOU (7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 SO, 97 pitches/58 strikes)…held Astros hitters hitless (0-for-13, 3 BB) after the 2nd inning and induced season-high 3 GIDP (most since 5/28/22-G1 vs. BAL, also 3)…signified his 4th-longest scoreless outing of the season (last: 8.2 SHO IP on 5/11 at OAK) and his 7th start of 7.0+ IP in 2023 (T2nd-most in A.L.)…maneuvered around season-high 4 walks, his most in a game since 9/27/19 vs. BAL (also 4 BB).
VS. BOSTON / HOMECOMING: Has gone 3-0 with a 4.45 ERA (16 ER/32.1 IP) in 7 career G/6 GS against the Red Sox, including 2-0, 5.60 (11 ER/17.2 IP) in 4 career G/GS at vs. Boston at Fenway Park.
- Owns a career 15-9, 4.12 ERA (120 ER/262.0 IP) at Fenway, having pitched for the Red Sox from 2018-22…ranks highly among MLB pitchers at Fenway Park since 2018 in innings (1st, 244.1), starts (T1st, 42) and strikeouts (3rd, 238).
- Went 26-18, 4.05 ERA (208 ER/461.2 IP) in 96 G/84 GS across parts of 5 seasons with the Red Sox…was an integral part of Boston’s 2018 World Championship run, going 2-1 with a 1.61 ERA (4 ER/22.1 IP) throughout the ’18 Postseason; this included a 6.0+ inning app. in World Series Game 3 at LAD (3 H, 2 R/1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO).
ON THE ROAD: Is 6-1, 2.44 ERA (18 ER/66.1 IP) over 10 G/GS on the road this season; this, compared to his 4-2, 2.93 ERA (15 ER/46.0 IP) in 7 home starts…is 1-0, 5.00 ERA (10 ER/18.0 IP) with 7 BB/15 SO over his last 3 road outings to raise his road ERA from 1.49 to 2.44…still ranks highly among A.L. qualifiers in innings (1st), starts (T1st), road ERA (2nd), opp. OPS (5th, .609) and WHIP (9th, 1.04).
2023: Opponents have batted .211/.266/.349/.615 (84-398) with 34 extra-base hits (8 HR, 5 3B, 21 2B), incl. a .204 BA for LHB and .217 BA for RHP…has thrown an avg. of 96.5 pitches per outing (7th in A.L.), and has accounted for 6 of 12 G w/ 100+ pitches by TEX starters in ‘23 (6-Eovaldi, 2-Gray, 2-Pérez, 1-Dunning, 1-Heaney).
BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
Have won their last 5 games, following a season-high 5-game losing streak from 6/24-29. The Sox are 11-8 in their last 19 games and 16-16 in the last 32, dating back to the start of June. At 44-43 (.506), Boston entered today tied with LAA for MLB’s 16th-best record.
MUY BELLO: Brayan Bello earned his team-leading 6th win last night, allowing 2 runs over 7.0 IP (9 H, 3 BB, 2 SO). He made his 5th consecutive start with more than
6.0 IP and 2 R or fewer allowed, becoming the first Red Sox pitcher to do so before turning 25 years old since Roger Clemens in 1986 (6 straight, 5/25-6/21/86). Bello is 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA and .185 opponent AVG in his last 5 starts (7 ER/34.2 IP, 23-for-124)…He’s 5-4 with a 2.30 ERA (16 ER/62.2 IP) in his last 10 starts.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Red Sox defeated the Rangers last night, 4-2…Justin Turner (2-for-4, R, 2 RBI) hit an RBI single in the 1st inning to give BOS a 1-0 lead and an RBI single in the 5th to extend the lead to 3-0. Chris Martin tossed a scoreless 8th inning (H, SO), his 10th consecutive scoreless outing (9.1 IP, 6 H, IBB, 9 SO). Kenley Jansen retired all 3 batters he faced in the 9th inning to earn his 18th save of 2023, 6th most in the AL.
SERIES BUSINESS: With a win tonight, the Red Sox would improve to 15-11-2 in series play, including 8-6-0 at home. BOS is 3-3-1 in its last 7 series, beginning 6/9-11 at NYY. The Sox are 2-5-0 in their last 7 home series, beginning 5/12-14 vs. STL, after going 5-1-0 in their first 6. The Red Sox are 6-3 in rubber games this season.
SOX & RANGERS: The Red Sox and Rangers are playing their 1st series of 2023…After this 3-game set, Boston will visit Texas for a 3-game series from 9/18-20.
The Sox are 7-2 vs. TEX since the start of 2022, including 5-1 at Fenway Park during that span. The Red Sox are 17-5 in their last 22 games vs. TEX at Fenway Park, dating back to the start of 2016…They’ve won each of their 6 home series vs. TEX in that span.
BEST WESTERN: The Red Sox are 6-6 against AL West teams this season and 31-14 since the beginning of 2022, the best record of any AL team over the last 2 seasons. The Sox have won their 2 home series against AL West opponents and lost their only road series (3-1 vs. LAA, 2-1 vs. SEA, 0-3 at LAA).
HOME COOKING: The Red Sox complete the season’s 1st half with a 6-game homestand vs. TEX (1-1) and OAK (3 games). Boston last night snapped a 4-game home losing streak. The Red Sox have scored 9 runs total in their last 5 home games…They’ve recorded 8+ hits in 4 of those 5 games. The Sox are 9-15 in their last 24 games at Fenway Park, after going 13-7 in their first 20. OFF TO SEA: Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen was selected to the American League’s roster for the 2023 All-Star Game, his 4th career All-Star selection (NL All-Star from 2016-18). Red Sox Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Kiyoshi Momose was chosen to manage the American League’s
strength and conditioning duties for the All-Star Game. The 2023 MLB All-Star Game will be played at 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, 7/11, at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
BIG MAPLE: Red Sox starter James Paxton was voted the American League Pitcher of the Month for June, going 3-0with a 1.74 ERA (6 ER/31.0 IP) in five starts during the month. This is Paxton’s 2nd career Pitcher of the Month Award (also July 2017 with SEA)…He’s the 1st Red Sox pitcher to take home a monthly honor since Chris Sale won in back-to-back months in June and July 2018.
JAMES PAXTON’S STARTS DURING JUNE
Game Decision IP H ER BB SO
6/6 at CLE W 7.0 6 2 2 9
6/12 vs. COL ND 6.0 4 0 1 8
6/19 at MIN W 6.1 3 3 1 7
6/24 at CWS ND 4.0 2 1 0 3
6/30 at TOR W 7.2 3 0 2 7
TOTALS: 3-0 31.0 18 6 6 34
TOUGH TEST: Tonight concludes Boston’s stretch of 3-straight series against teams that entered today with a record of .500 or better (4-4 so far; 0-3 vs. MIA, 3-0 at TOR, 1-1 vs. TEX). After tonight, 8 of their next 11 series (7/7-8/17) are against teams that entered today with a sub-.500 record. The Red Sox have played 60 games against teams that entered today with a record of .500 or better, tied with TOR for most in MLB. The Sox are 32-28 (.533) in those games, the 2nd-best record in the AL (4th in MLB)…Their 32 wins lead MLB.
SLUGGING SOX: The Red Sox have recorded 10+ hits in a season-high-tying 4 consecutive games, batting .310 with an .826 OPS during that span (45-for-145, 12 2B, 3B, 3 HR). This is the 3rd time the Red Sox have collected double-digit hits in 4-straight games (also 5/1-4 and 3/30-4/3)… They’re the only team in MLB to record 3 such streaks. Last night was the Sox’ 36th game of the season with 10+ hits, 4th most in MLB (TEX-47, ATL-39, TB-37).
PITCHING IN: In their last 6 games, Red Sox pitchers have posted a 3.17 ERA (19 ER/54.0 IP) while holding opponents to a .226 AVG (45-for-199) with 17 BB and 46 SO.
In those 6 games, Red Sox starting pitchers (including openers) are 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA and .175 opponent AVG (7 ER/29.2 IP, 18-for-103).
RUNNIN’ RED SOX: The Red Sox rank 3rd in the AL and 9th in MLB in SB% (81.4%, 57-for-70)…In 2022, they ranked 22nd in MLB with a 72.2 SB% (52-for-72). 16 players have stolen a base for the Sox this season, 1 more than BOS had in 2022, most of any AL team this season, and tied with PIT and MIA for most in MLB.
HELP IS ON THE WAY: Four Red Sox players are on rehab assignments: Richard Bleier, Yu Chang, Pablo Reyes, and Joely Rodriguez… eyes has homered in each of his first 2 rehab games with Triple-A Worcester (3-for-7, 3 R, 3 RBI). Bleier retired all 3 batters he faced last night for WOR vs. Syracuse, his 2nd rehab outing (also 1.0 IP on Sunday).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: 50 KUTTER CRAWFORD – RHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 3-4 3.92 16 8 57.1 25 10 12 55 1.10 .233
CAREER 6-11 5.07 38 21 136.2 77 23 43 134 1.32 .259
Earned the win Saturday at TOR…Allowed 2 ER (2 solo HR) over 5.2 IP (3 H, 2 BB, 5 SO). In 8 starts, has a 5.30 ERA and .282 opponent AVG (35.2 IP, 21 ER, 40 H)…In 8 relief outings, has a 1.66 ERA and .143 opponent AVG (21.2 IP, 4 ER, 11 H). Tossed 2.0 scoreless innings of relief in his lone career appearance vs. TEX on 5/13/22. Opponents have hit .163 vs. his 4-seam fastball (13-for-80, 6 XBH, 36 SO). Has held lefties to a .188 AVG (21-for-112, 10 XBH) compared a .280 AVG (30-for-107, 10 XBH) vs. righties. Opponents have a .259 AVG against him, but only a .220 expected AVG. Ranks in MLB’s 75th percentile or higher in chase rate (93rd), walk rate (91st), fastball spin (92nd), avg. exit velocity (81st) and expected opp. AVG (76th).
