Red Sox Series Preview: Round 2 @ Texas Rangers

May 27, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman

(15) celebrates his home run with center fielder

(50) in the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox’ Key Players To Watch:

• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia is leading the offensively inept Red Sox lineup with a .393 batting average, in the last seven days. In times of turmoil, you turn to your veteran leaders for guidance through the storm. With designated hitter David Ortiz being moved to the five-spot in the lineup, Pedroia will be called upon in this series to lead off and show the way to past glory. He’s hit two home runs and six RBIs in that same stretch.

• First baseman Mike Napoli was on a tear against one of his former teams: the Los Angeles Angels. In the last seven games, Napoli hit .333 with four home runs and nine RBIs. The issue is that, maybe, Napoli can only do it against the Angels. In the series against the Twins, Napoli hit only three times out of 11 at-bats, driving in a single run. For the 2015 season, Napoli is hitting .208, after spending most of his time below .200 in both April and May. Boston is hoping that same magic that Napoli had for one former team will happen again, while playing against another of his former teams.

• Center fielder Mookie Betts may have only eight hits in his last 28 at-bats, but he found a way to get three RBIs in that span. The whole team is struggling at the plate, with Betts being bumped to second in the lineup. It will be interesting to see how the young man from Nashville, Tennessee responds, before the All-Star Break in July.