Boston @ Texas (3 game series)

The Red Sox continue their road trip with a 3 games series in Texas. Texas is coming off a sweep at the hands of the Angels.

Pitching Matchups
Wakefield (0-0, 0.00) vs. Tejeda (0-0, 0.00)
Taverez (0-0, 0.00)* vs. Wright (0-0, 0.00)
Schilling (0-1, 11.25) vs. Millwood (0-1, 5.40)
*Taverez might be skipped in the rotation, meaning Schilling will pitch Game 2 and Beckett will pitch Game 3.

Projected Lineups:

Rangers
1. K. Lofton, Cf
2. F. Catalanotto, DH
3. M. Young, SS
4. M. Teixeira, 1b
5. S. Sosa, Rf
6. H. Blalock, 3b
7. B. Wilkerson, Lf
8. G. Laird, C
9. I. Kinsler, 2b

Red Sox
1. J. Lugo, SS
2. K. Youkilis, 1b
3. D. Ortiz, DH
4. M. Ramirez, Lf
5. J. Drew, Rf
6. M. Lowell, 3b
7. J. Varitek, C
8. C. Crisp, Cf
9. D. Pedroia, 2b


Key Injuries

Texas:
Eric Gagne

Boston:
Mike Timlin

Player to Watch: Akinori Otsuka is the player i am going to be watching. He is the current closer for Texas and is coming off a great season. Last year he has 32 saves and a 2.11 ERA. Why am i watching him? Because if Gagne comes back healthy, we might see him pitching out of the Red Sox pen come July. If Texas drops out of the race, Otsuka will become a very valuable trading chip, that the Red Sox would love to control.
TSCA: Coco Crisp is the winner this series. He has been looking extremely bad this season. I would be surprised if Pena starts getting some of his ABs. That being said, Crisp hasn't had a good history hitting Texas either. Over the last 3 season Crisp has a .648 OPS against the Rangers over 82 ABs. Look for Crisp to struggle this season, and possibly for the rest of the season.