It’s been a tough start to this road trip for Sox pitching, which has allowed 13 runs over two games against the Rangers. Nick Pivetta will look to reverse that trend as he takes the ball for Sunday’s series finale in Texas. The righthander is coming off a solid outing against the Mariners, allowing three runs in 6 ⅔ innings while striking out 10.
The Sox will face old friend Nate Eovaldi, who’s having another strong season for the Rangers. An All-Star in his first season in Texas, Eovaldi has posted similar or improved marks across the board in 2024.
Boston Red Sox Lineup for Sunday's Game
RED SOX (58-51): Duran CF, Yoshida DH, Refsnyder LF, Devers 3B, Wong C, Abreu RF, Smith 1B, Rafaela SS, Hamilton 2B
Jarren Duran Injury Update: Will He Play?
Boston Red Sox star Jarren Duran has been the poster boy for durability this season, having played in all 109 games. But Duran gave the Red Sox quite the injury scare in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field that made it seem like he might finally have to miss a game. Duran clutched at his right side after he grounded out to end the third inning, but stayed in the game. He then had his at-bat interrupted in the seventh inning when Red Sox manager Alex Cora and a member of the team's training staff came out to check on him after he winced in pain and grabbed at his side again. But Duran talked his way into finishing the at-bat and the game.
“He's OK. He felt something on his side and in one of his swings,” Cora told reporters, as seen on NESN postgame coverage. “(Head trainer) Brandon (Henry) just checked on him, get treatment tomorrow and he should be ready to go.”
Duran turned in a 1-for-5 performance at the plate as he reached on an infield single in the fifth. He struck out to end the aforementioned at-bat in the seventh and struck out in a big spot an inning later against Rangers closer Kirby Yates with the bases loaded.
It was in August last season that Duran had his breakout campaign come to a premature end. He suffered a toe injury, which required surgery, at Yankee Stadium after scaling the wall in center in pursuit of a home-run ball.
Perhaps Cora will look to play it safe and try to get Duran a day off for the first time this season even though the Red Sox are trying to stay in the playoff picture. But he’ll probably get some pushback from Duran, who seems determined to grind through whatever he is dealing with.
David Hamilton Back in the Lineup
Alex Cora said Hamilton was working with hitting coach Pete Fatse the last few days to correct a few things Fatse had noticed while watching video. Hamilton has been slumping, slashing just .176/.228/.230 since June 24.
Pivetta vs. Eovaldi: A Tale of Two Pitchers
The Red Sox will send Nick Pivetta to the mound in the final game of the weekend series with the Texas Rangers. Pivetta has been all right for Boston this season, posting a 4.47 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP while striking out 112 batters in 17 starts. He’s allowed 11 total runs (10 earned) in his last two starts. He’s given up hits to five Rangers in his career - Robbie Grossman (2-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk), Carson Kelly (1-for-2), Nathaniel Lowe (2-for-4 with a walk), Corey Seager (2-for-9 with an RBI) and Marcus Semien (5-for-18 with a home run, three RBIs and two walks).
Eovaldi has been good for Texas this year in his 19 starts, recording a 3.38 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP while striking out 106 batters. He’s allowed three or fewer runs in five of his last six starts. He’s given up hits to five Red Sox in his career - Devers (1-for-5 with two RBIs and a walk), Danny Jansen (1-for-3 with two walks), Smith (1-for-4 with an RBI), Wong (2-for-4) and Yoshida (2-for-5 with two RBIs).
Can The Red Sox Get Back On Track?
The Red Sox and the Texas Rangers will wrap up their three-game series Sunday afternoon at Globe Life Field.
To the surprise of no one who knows anything about Jarren Duran, the All-Star outfielder will be in his team’s starting lineup for the series finale. Duran favored his right side after grounding out in the third inning Saturday and was spotted wincing in the seventh, but he finished the contest and will bat leadoff and play center field Sunday.
Rob Refsynder also wasn’t at 100% in the Red Sox’s last game due to illness, but he too will be back in the starting nine following his two-homer performance. Refsnyder and Duran will share an outfield with Wilyer Abreu, which could signal a second straight missed game for Tyler O’Neill.
Nick Pivetta will be on the bump for Boston looking to build off his impressive win Monday night against the Seattle Mariners. Pivetta will be opposed by a familiar face in Nathan Eovaldi, who will square off against his former team for the first time since September of last year.
Here are the lineups for Sunday’s Red Sox-Rangers game:
RED SOX (58-51) Jarren Duran, CF Masataka Yoshida, DH Rob Refsnyder, LF Rafael Devers, 3B Connor Wong, C Wilyer Abreu, RF Dominic Smith, 1B Ceddanine Rafaela, SS David Hamilton, 2B
Nick Pivetta, RHP (5-7, 4.41 ERA)
RANGERS (53-58) Josh Smith, 3B Corey Seager, SS Marcus Semien, 2B Nathaniel Lowe, 1B Adolis García, RF Josh Jung, DH Ezequiel Duran, LF Jonah Heim, C Leody Tavares, CF
Nathan Eovaldi, RHP (8-4, 3.38 ERA)
