Red Sox Seek Split Against Rangers in Series Finale

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Boston Red Sox aim for a series split against the Texas Rangers on Sunday, facing a challenging matchup with two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom on the mound. The Red Sox, coming off two consecutive losses, are struggling with runners in scoring position, having gone 1 for 12 in their last game.

Right-hander Richard Fitts will make his first start of the season for the Red Sox after an impressive debut last September, where he threw 18 ⅔ scoreless innings over four games. His success comes at a crucial time, as Boston looks to bounce back from early-season setbacks.

The Rangers, who have started the season 2-1, bring deGrom out of the bullpen after he missed much of the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery. The veteran right-hander signed a five-year, $185 million contract with Texas but has only made nine starts since then. DeGrom is seeking to reestablish himself at Globe Life Field, where he has historically performed well, despite being 0-2 with a 2.88 ERA against the Red Sox in four career starts.

First pitch is set for 2:35 p.m. Eastern, with the game broadcast on NESN and WEEI-FM 93.7. The lineups for today’s game are as follows:

RED SOX (1-2): Duran LF, Devers DH, Bregman 3B, Casas 1B, Campbell 2B, Abreu RF, Wong C, Hamilton SS, Rafaela CF
Pitching: RHP Richard Fitts

RANGERS (2-1): Semien 2B, Langford LF, Pederson DH, Garcia RF, Burger 1B, Higashioka C, Taveras CF, Ornelas SS, Duran 3B
Pitching: RHP Jacob deGrom

The Red Sox’s offensive woes were highlighted in their last match, leaving ten men on base, including five in scoring position. Manager Alex Cora expressed disappointment in his team’s inability to convert opportunities, saying, “The bottom part of the lineup did a good job getting on base. The big boys didn’t cash in.”

Notably, Rafael Devers‘ struggles have been alarming, as he has struck out 10 times in just three games, setting an MLB record for most strikeouts at the start of a season. In light of this, the team is searching for effective strategies to make contact and drive in runs.

Rookie Kristian Campbell has made an impact despite the team’s struggles, collecting two hits in the previous game, including his first career home run. “We didn’t cash in,” Cora reflected. “I think the bottom part of the lineup did a good job getting on base and doing other stuff.”

The Red Sox expect big contributions from their stars as they look to turn the season around. Campbell’s performance has energized the team, and he aims to build on his strong start against a formidable pitching opponent in deGrom.

This matchup serves as a vital game in building momentum for the upcoming series against the Orioles, as both teams compete in the early days of the regular season. Fitts, in particular, is eager to prove himself against elite competition on this significant stage.

For updates and further developments, follow the game live or tune into the broadcasts.