| 17 June 2010
Starters
John Lackey (7-3, 4.54)
Dan Haren (7-4, 4.61)
Lackey has been sharp in his last two starts, holding the Orioles and Phillies to two runs each, while lasting 7 innings in both games. I've been annoyed with Lackey's mediocrity so far this season, but I can't dismiss his effort. While Beckett and Matsuzaka have been hurt for most of the year, Lackey hasn't missed a start and has stayed in games long enough to give the Sox a shot at winning - hence the 7-3 record. Lackey should be able to grab another win tonight, but with the D-backs fanning like a team full of Japanese Geishas... I'll be curious to see if Lackey can get back to logging more than 2 Ks per game.
I've heard some say that Haren is having an off year, but after going 14-10 with 223 Ks last season, I think his 7-4 record and 97 strikeouts are right in line with a good pitcher on a bad team. It's the 4.61 ERA that has people scratching their heads, but after watching him mow down the Cardinals in his last start: 8 IP, 2 R 9 K... the Red Sox may be running into him at the wrong time. The D-backs have lost 12 in a row on the road and are sinking into a lost season with every game right now. Haren in their ace and I expect him to do everything he can to help his team avoid a sweep in Boston. Haren is 2-3 with a 2.65 ERA against the Sox thanks to his time in Oakland.
Key Matchups
Dustin Pedroia is supernova-hot right now, but he's 0-7 against Haren, so I'll go with Adrian Beltre. Beltre is riding a six-game hitting streak that includes 4 multi-hit games... he's also 16 for 39 (.410) with 2 ding dongs vs Haren.
The Diamondbacks haven't seen Lackey before, so I'm going to base this on what I've seen over the past two nights. Justin Upton is my pick. He crushed a homer last night that rivaled Youk's blast over the Monster and also laced a single to left that would have decapitated anyone standing in front of it. He seems locked in right now...
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