Eovaldi (5-7, 4.26) draws Connelly Early (5-4, 3.30) for the series finale, first pitch 7:20 PM ET. It's a familiar walk for Eovaldi, who pitched in Boston from 2018 through 2022 and has a World Series ring from the place. He's coming off a rough one in Kansas City — 5.2 innings, 4 earned, 3 walks — so the reunion vibes are going to have to do some heavy lifting.
Early has been the steadier arm all year, but his last start was a clunker too: 4.2 innings, 4 walks, a loss in Tampa. The Red Sox are still going to like their spot. They hung 10 on the Rangers Friday, won 6-3 on Saturday, and have a banged-up Texas lineup walking into Fenway in the back end of a road trip.
The injury sheet is where this game really tilts. Corey Seager is day-to-day with ribs/jaw stuff and was already out of Saturday's lineup. Michael Helman just got diagnosed with multiple fractures in his right hand. Evan Carter went on the 10-day IL with an oblique. That's a center fielder, a center fielder, and the franchise shortstop, all either gone or compromised — and the bullpen is also missing Chris Martin and Jalen Beeks.
- Day-To-DayCorey Seager SS — Seager (ribs/jaw) isn't in the starting lineup versus Boston on Saturday.
- 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.
- 10-Day-ILEvan Carter CF — The Rangers placed Carter (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Saturday.
- 10-Day-ILJosh Smith 2B — Smith (glute/wrist/illness) moved his rehab from Double-A Frisco to Triple-A Round Rock.
- 10-Day-ILDanny Jansen C — Jansen is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Guardians on Friday.
- 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.
- 15-Day-ILChris Martin RP — The Rangers placed Martin on the 15-day injured list Monday with a right shoulder impingement.
- 60-Day-ILJordan Montgomery SP — Montgomery (elbow) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayHobie Harris RP — Harris was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
- 10-Day-ILRoman Anthony LF — Anthony continues to experience pain in his injured right hand when swinging, though he still believes he is progressing in his recovery, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILNick Sogard 3B — Sogard (oblique) told reporters Friday that he plans to start swinging a bat Monday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
- 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.
- 60-Day-ILGarrett Crochet SP — Crochet clarified Friday that his lat strain is asymptomatic, but his shoulder is taking longer than expected to recover, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports. The left-hander also said he doesn't expect to come off the injured list until after the All-Star break.
- 60-Day-ILPatrick Sandoval SP — Sandoval (biceps) will make his next rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, MLB.com reports.
- 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.
- 60-Day-ILRomy Gonzalez 1B — Gonzalez (shoulder) took batting practice at Fenway Park on Wednesday, WEEI reports.
Boston's not exactly whole either — no Roman Anthony, no Trevor Story, no Triston Casas, no Garrett Crochet — but at 29-39 they've been the worse team on paper and yet they're the ones running this series. Two wins here and they've taken three straight from a team that came in above them in the standings. That matters for a Red Sox group trying to claw out of the AL East basement before the All-Star break.
The market sees a near coin flip: Boston -110, Texas -100, with a total of 9.5. Given who's healthy and who isn't, that feels about right. Rangers desperately need Eovaldi to give them length and Seager to find his way back into the box score, or this is going to be a quiet flight home.