BOSTON — Manager Alex Cora pointed out on his weekly “WEEI Afternoons” appearance that the Red Sox will face another tough starting pitcher Wednesday.
“He’s a monster,” Cora said on the show about Texas righty Tyler Mahle who’s 1-1 with a 1.19 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in seven starts this season. Mahle hasn’t allowed a home run in 37 ⅔ innings.
The Red Sox and Rangers will play the second game of their three-game series at 6:45 p.m. here at Fenway Park. Texas took the series opener, 6-1, on Tuesday.
“I’m not concerned,” Cora said after last night’s loss, which dropped Boston to below .500 (18-19). “It’s part of the season. Are we happy with what’s going on? Of course not. We believe we’re better and it hasn’t happened. We’re going to keep working. We’re going to be better. We know that — hopefully sooner rather than later.”
Boston’s No. 6 hitter Trevor Story is 6-for-50 (.120) with 19 strikeouts and three walks in his past 12 games dating back to April 22. He’s 2-for-16 with four strikeouts in his career vs. Mahle.
Alex Bregman is 4-for-10 with a double and two strikeouts in his career against Mahle. Wilyer Abreu is 2-for-3 with one double and one strikeout vs. him.
Tanner Houck (0-2, 6.38 ERA) will start for Boston.
Houck has struggled this season but he put together his best start this past Thursday in Toronto, allowing just one run, four hits and no walks in 7 innings.
Texas’ Adolis Garcia is 4-for-8 with two homers, one double, three walks and two strikeouts against Houck. Jonah Heim is 4-for-7 with three homers, one double and one strikeout vs. the righty.
TEXAS RANGERS (18-18) @ BOSTON RED SOX (18-19) · FENWAY PARK · BOSTON, MA · GAME 38
FIRST PITCH: 6:45 p.m. ET
TV CHANNEL: NESN
RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM
PITCHING PROBABLES: RHP Tyler Mahle (3-1, 1.19 ERA) vs. RHP Tanner Houck (0-2, 6.38 ERA)
RED SOX LINEUP:
Jarren Duran LFRafael Devers DHAlex Bregman 3BKristian Campbell 2BWilyer Abreu RFTrevor Story SSRomy Gonzalez 1BConnor Wong CCeddanne Rafaela CF
RANGERS LINEUP:
Josh Smith 1B Wyatt Langford LFCorey Seager SS Joc Pederson DH Marcus Semien 2BAdolis Garcia RFEvan Carter CFJonah Heim CJosh Jung 3B
