Texas Rangers
(34-34)Jun 11W@ Royals4-2
Jun 10W@ Royals6-4
Jun 9L@ Royals3-5
Jun 7Wvs Guardians10-0
Jun 6Lvs Guardians0-6
Boston Red Sox
(27-39)Jun 10L@ Rays5-7
Jun 9L@ Rays3-4
Jun 8L@ Rays1-3
Jun 7L@ Yankees1-6
Jun 6P@ Yankees0-0
Texas, meanwhile, sits at 34-34 and has rattled off 3 wins in their last 4, including back-to-back grind-out jobs in Kansas City. They're still playing without Joc Pederson (hip), Josh Smith, Danny Jansen, and Jordan Montgomery, so this isn't a juggernaut rolling in — but it's a club that's been competitive every night, which is more than Boston can say.
Texas Rangers
(12)- Day-To-DayJoc Pederson (DH) — Pederson (hip) is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest in Kansas City.06/11
- Day-To-DaySebastian Walcott (SS) — Rangers GM Ross Fenstermaker said Tuesday that Walcott could be ready for game action in August, "if all things according to plan" in his rehab from the internal brace procedure he underwent on his right elbow, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.04/07
- 10-Day-ILJosh Smith (2B) — Smith (glute/wrist/illness) moved his rehab from Double-A Frisco to Triple-A Round Rock.06/11
- 10-Day-ILDanny Jansen (C) — Jansen is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Guardians on Friday.06/06
- 15-Day-ILJalen Beeks (RP) — Beeks (2-1) earned the win in relief Saturday against the Cubs after tossing 1.1 scoreless innings. He struck out one with no hits or walks allowed.06/11
- 15-Day-ILChris Martin (RP) — The Rangers placed Martin on the 15-day injured list Monday with a right shoulder impingement.06/01
- OutDeclan Cronin (RP) — Cronin (elbow) signed a two-year, minor-league contract with the Rangers on Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.05/08
- OutNabil Crismatt (SP) — Crismatt will undergo surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJordan Montgomery (SP) — Montgomery (elbow) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.06/04
- 60-Day-ILRobert Garcia (RP) — The Rangers transferred Garcia (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.06/01
- 60-Day-ILCarter Baumler (RP) — Baumler (intercostal) has been shut down from his rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.05/23
- 60-Day-ILCody Bradford (SP) — Bradford (elbow) began throwing from 60 feet during the Rangers' most recent homestand, MLB.com reports05/10
Boston Red Sox
(14)- Day-To-DayMarcelo Mayer (2B) — Mayer is absent from Wednesday's lineup versus the Rays due to back and neck stiffness, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.06/10
- Day-To-DayHobie Harris (RP) — Harris was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILRoman Anthony (LF) — Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Monday that Anthony (finger) remains shut down from swinging a bat, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.06/08
- 10-Day-ILNick Sogard (3B) — Sogard is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.06/03
- 15-Day-ILJovani Moran (RP) — The Red Sox placed Moran on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to Friday, with left elbow inflammation, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.06/06
- OutBrendan Rodgers (2B) — Rodgers (shoulder) re-signed Friday with the Red Sox on a two-year, minor-league contract, Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILGarrett Crochet (SP) — Crochet said Wednesday that his lat strain "is a lot worse" than the Red Sox originally thought, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.06/11
- 60-Day-ILPatrick Sandoval (SP) — Sandoval (biceps) will make his next rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, MLB.com reports.06/08
- 60-Day-ILTrevor Story (SS) — Story underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia Thursday and will be sidelined 6-10 weeks, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.06/04
- 60-Day-ILRomy Gonzalez (1B) — Gonzalez (shoulder) took batting practice at Fenway Park on Wednesday, WEEI reports.06/03
- 60-Day-ILKutter Crawford (SP) — Interim manager Chad Tracy said Tuesday that Crawford (elbow) is dealing with moderate tightness in his right forearm, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.06/02
- 60-Day-ILTriston Casas (1B) — Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters Wednesday that Casas (abdomen/knee) is close to being cleared to swing a bat, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILTanner Houck (SP) — Houck (elbow) has been making throws out to 105 feet three days per week, MLB.com reports.05/15
- 60-Day-ILJohan Oviedo (SP) — Oviedo (elbow) will be reevaluated by Dr. Keith Meister in two weeks to determine his progress, Marcos Grunfeld of ElEmergente.com reports.05/08
The matchup hinges on whether Leiter can give the Rangers length. He's flashed real swing-and-miss stuff this year but the command has wandered, and Fenway is not the park to be nibbling in. If he keeps Boston off the board into the 5th, the Texas bullpen has been sturdy enough to close it. If he doesn't, Gray on the other side will make every Sox run feel like 2.
Bottom line: the Sox are reeling, the rotation behind Gray is a wreck with Garrett Crochet out long-term, and Boston needs this one to stop the bleeding before it becomes a full-on identity crisis at Fenway.