Red Sox at Rangers
Mookie Betts is racking up the homers of late and looks to add to his major league-leading total on Saturday, when the Boston Red Sox visit the Texas Rangers for the third contest of their four-game series. Betts' blast in Friday's 5-1 win was his fifth in three games and 13th of the campaign.
Betts hit his 70th shot out of the leadoff spot to break Dom DiMaggio's franchise mark, but he wasn't the only Boston player displaying his power skills on Friday. Rafeal Devers went 3-for-4 with two homers and J.D. Martinez also went deep as the Red Sox won for the fourth time in six games. Nomar Mazara went deep in his fourth straight game for Texas and has collected 11 RBIs over his last five contests. The Rangers have lost four of their last six overall games and are a dreadful 5-13 at home this season.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (3-0, 4.78 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Cole Hamels (1-4, 4.08)
Rodriguez escaped with a no-decision against Kansas City in his last turn after giving up five runs and five hits over four innings. The 25-year-old won his previous three starts, allowing a total of six runs over 18 2/3 frames. Rodriguez's lone career start against Texas came in his major-league debut, which he won after scattering three hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings on May 28, 2015.
Hamels is winless over his last five turns and suffered a loss in three of those outings. The 34-year-old hasn't worked more than 6 1/3 innings in any of his seven starts and has served up eight homers after allowing 18 last season. Hamels is 4-1 with a 2.68 ERA in six career starts against the Red Sox, but all of those appearances came when he was with Philadelphia.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers CF Delino DeShields recorded two hits on Friday for the fifth time in six games and is 13-for-35 during his eight-game hitting streak.
2. Devers is 7-for-18 with two homers and two doubles over his last four games.
3. Texas 2B Rougned Odor (hamstring) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco.