Boston has significant advantages on the mound with its starter and bullpen and in the batter's box today. Garrett Crochet dominated in Spring Training and is a guy to watch in the AL Cy Young award race. He faces a Texas lineup with several lefty bats at the top of the order and posed the 22nd-best wRC+ last season. The Sox lineup was already solid, but is even more so now with Alex Bregman joining Jarren Duran and Rafael Devers.

Nathan Eovaldi posted a 3.80 ERA last year, but his HR/9 rate jumped, and his BB/9 rate dropped. The 35-year-old is backed up by a mediocre bullpen featuring several journeyman relievers. Boston, meanwhile, bolstered its pen by adding Aroldis Chapman (2.45 ERA in the spring) and Liam Hendriks.

In short, I see too many advantages on Boston's side this afternoon, even if I like Texas' odds of being a surprise contender this season.