Is a sweep too much to ask for?

Written by Rob Munstis | 22 July 2010

Okay... so that Oakland series didn't go so well. But, as Manny would say, we gotta turn the page.

Tonight John Lackey (9-5, 4.65) kicks off a four-game set with the Mariners, and to be frank, there's no reason we shouldn't take at least three games in this series.

We've got Lackey, Lester, Beckett and Dice-K going through the weekend and somehow we managed to miss King Felix in the deal... couple that with the leagues worst offense (.237 BA, 314 runs) lead by a struggling Ichiro (.230 in July), and I find it hard not to expect a sweep.

But with the Sox offense in hibernation, you never know.

Lackey has seen plenty of the Mariners and is 12-9 with a 3.89 ERA in 25 career starts. He's also 8-5 with a 3.05 ERA at Safeco Field. That said, he's struggled on the road this year (2-3, 5.19 in 8 GS), so the Sox will be hoping he can feed off of his last outing. Lackey threw 7 strong innings against Texas his last time out, holding them to 7 hits and 2 runs, but walked away with an no-decision due to a lack of offense. We could see more of that tonight, but our starters need to remain focused on their jobs, while the Nation prays for a few more hits.

The Mariners will be countering with Ryan Rowand-Smith (1-9, 6.18). R.R.S. is a southpaw, and the Red Sox own the best OPS in the league against lefties at .814. Rowland-Smith has also been in a funk lately, getting pounded for 6 runs through 3+ innings against the Angels and 6 runs through 4 innings against the Yankees in his last two starts.

Bottom Line: If the Sox lose this one, my Faith-O-Meter will fall to an all-time low on the year.

Key Matchups

Youk is 2 for 4 with 2 doubles against R.R.S., but as we said yesterday, Beltre is on fire right now: 8 for last 13, 1 HR, 4 RBI... so until further notice, he's the K.M.

Lackey will try and keep Ichiro quiet, but Suzuki is 26 for 85 (.306) against Lackey. Justin Smoak, who came to Seattle in the Cliff Lee trade, has some pop (10 HR, 269 AB) and might be another guy to watch out for.

Leave comments here during the game or stop by Sox & Dawgs to chat with other Sox fans in the Game Thread.