Red Sox Series Preview: Round 2 @ Texas Rangers

Mar 12, 2015; Bradenton, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher

(79) pitches during a spring training baseball game at McKechnie Field. The Boston Red Sox beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching Matchups @ Rangers (Globe Life Park)

May 28th @ 8:05 PM ET

• Eduardo Rodriguez (debut) vs. Nick Martinez (4-0, 1.96 ERA)
• Rodriguez makes his debut for the Red Sox, after being called up from the minors. The lefty from Venezuela is featured in Conor Duffy’s report, yesterday for BoSox Injection
• The righty Martinez has started nine games, with no losses. The reason why he only has four wins is because of run support. Despite the Rangers being fifth in all of Major League Baseball for runs scored, Martinez has not had his games in line for the victory, when he is relieved.

May 29th @ 8:05 PM ET

• Steven Wright (2-1, 3.68 ERA) vs. Yovani Gallardo (4-6, 4.13 ERA)
• Wright has done the job of filling in for the injured Justin Masterson nicely. In his last three appearances, Wright has pitched past the fifth inning, allowing three or fewer earned runs on six or fewer hits. Even in the loss, Wright only gave up two earned runs to the Seattle Mariners in five innings. Eventually, if the Red Sox wish to succeed, their bats will have to support Wright’s good outings.
• The righty Gallardo has thrown better at home (3.55 ERA) than in away games (4.60). In his last three starts, Gallardo posted a 2-1 record; however, the loss came against the Red Sox, where he gave up 10 hits and four earned runs.

May 30th @ 7:15 PM ET

• Wade Miley (4-4, 4.47 ERA) vs. To Be Determined by Rangers
• Miley’s last three starts have all been victories. He has pitched deep into the frames, reaching the end of the eighth inning in his last start against the Los Angeles Angels. This span has seen Miley allow only a combined three earned runs with six walks and 10 strikeouts. Depending whom the Rangers decide to send on the mound, Miley’s recent strategy, of letting the defense get the majority of the outs, should help him secure another win.

May 31st @ 3:05 PM ET

• Joe Kelly (1-4, 6.24 ERA) vs. To Be Determined by Rangers
• Your guess is as good as anyone’s, when it comes to predicting Kelly’s next performance. In his last three starts, Kelly has lost twice. Only one of those losses was a bad one, which was his latest outing against the Angels. He surrendered seven earned runs on eight hits in only 1.2 innings of work. His previous loss was at the hands of the Rangers; however, Kelly only allowed two earned runs on seven hits in seven innings. He had seven strikeouts in that game, too. Kelly could be amazing, terrible, or could just not get any run support to even sniff a win.