After a 7-3 road trip, the Texas Rangers return home to Arlington on Monday night as they play host to the Boston Red Sox, who sit just a half game back of the New York Yankees in the AL East.
Texas sits four games ahead of the second place Angels, who picked up two games on the Rangers over the weekend as the Rangers dropped two of three to the White Sox.
C.J. Wilson takes the mound for the Rangers on Monday to open the series. Wilson carries a 12-5 record with a 3.20 ERA and 1.21 WHIP into the contest. Wilson has notched the win in both of his last two starts, allowing just one run in both. Wilson pitched in Arlington against the Red Sox on opening day, lasting just 5.2 innings while giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out six.
Wilson will have to be sharp as the Red Sox are the top hitting team in the league, ranking first in batting average, on base percentage and slugging percentage despite being second in runs scored in the American League.
Texas' offense will be facing off against familiar lefty Erik Bedard, who had been with the Mariners since 2008 prior to being traded to Boston earlier this summer. The oft injured lefty has pitched well this season, despite a shoddy 4-8 record. Bedard owns a 1.19 WHIP with 104 strikeouts in 107.1 innings of work against just 34 walks and 94 hits.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.