Game 22: Red Sox @ Blue Jays

Written by Rob Munstis | 28 April 2010

Starters

Jon Lester (0-2, 6.23)

Brett Cecil (1-0, 5.40)

Lester is 4.-3 with a 3.03 ERA and a .205 BAA in 9 starts against the Jays. After a rough start the season Lester settled in and blanked the Orioles through 5 2/3 innings his last time out, but continued to struggle with his command, walking four batters and using 113 pitches on the day. We mentioned that Buchholz might take advantage of the free swinging Jays in last night's game and he did, finding his way into the 8th inning for the first time since August 29th, 2009... when he beat the Jays 3-2. Lester could have similar success, since the Jays are batting just .185 (29th) against southpaws this year. Unlike Josh Beckett, Lester has enjoyed his time in Toronto over the years... He faced the Blue Jays three times in 2009, all in the Rogers Centre, and went 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA and 23 Ks in 21 total innings.

Cecil pitched okay in his one start of 2010, holding the Rays to 4 runs and earning the win thanks to 8 strikeouts. But Cecil has not faired well against the Red Sox. In two career starts, he's 0-2 with a 12.00 ERA. He didn't make it through the 5th inning in eaither starts and allowed 7 total homers in those outings. Boston is hitting a mediocre .263 against lefties this year, but they seem to have Cecil's number.

Key Matchups

Jason Varitek will get the start tonight at catcher with Victor Martinez at DH and David Ortiz on the bench. Tek is 2 for 2 with 2 ding dongs against Cecil and is hitting .357 on the season. The other guy I would watch is J.D. Drew... he is also 2 for 2 with 2 homers against Cecil and was struck by Vertigo last night. He posted an 11-game hitting streak after his last case of the spins and is quietly riding a 6-game hitting streak right now.

None of the Jays hit Lester all that well, but Jose Bautista and Vernon Wells have taken him deep in the past, and Bautista has been hitting southpaws at a .296 clip since the start of 2009. Lyle Overbay could be trouble as well. He's hitting .308 against Lester and owns the hottest bat in the Jays lineup right now with 2 homers and a .316 BA over the past 7 days.