After going 11-11 between the end of July and the beginning of August, the Red Sox are hoping a 3-1 series win over the Royals will help them to establish some momentum as the season enters the final stretch. But to eep that momentum going, they'll have to take down one of the league's best clubs in the Texas Rangers.
It's been more than four months since the Rangers swept the Sox in the season opener, starting what would eventually be a 2-10 slide by Boston to start the season. Since then, the Rangers have shown that they are every bit as good as they appeared, establishing a healthy lead atop the AL West at 73-55, while the Sox have of course proved that their poor start was just a bump in the road.
Now Boston is headed back to Texas for a four-game series, hoping to not only get some revenge on the team that made the beginning of their season so frustrating, but also to pick up some statement wins to ensure they've kicked the bad habits that have left them slumping for the better part of a month.
To do so, though, they'll have to get through a couple of tough lefties, and a lineup that ranks just behind Boston's in terms of pure offensive ability.
Boston Red Sox (77-49) vs. Texas Rangers (73-55)
Monday, August 22, 8:05 p.m.
NESN/MLBN
Erik Bedard (4-8, 3.44 ERA) vs. C.J. Wilson (12-5, 3.20 ERA)
Tuesday, August 23, 8:05 p.m.
NESN/MLBN
John Lackey (11-9, 6.02 ERA) vs. Colby Lewis (11-8, 3.83 ERA)
Wednesday, August 24, 7:05 p.m.
NESN/ESPN2
Josh Beckett (10-5, 2.46 ERA) vs. Matt Harrison (10-8, 3.28 ERA)
Thursday, August 25, 8:05 p.m.
NESN/MLBN
Tim Wakefield (6-5, 4.97 ERA) vs. Alexi Ogando (12-5, 3.30 ERA)