| 26 May 2010
YOU'RE ON A NEED TO KNOW BASIS...
John Lackey (4-3, 5.07) is 9-3 with a 3.77 ERA in 13 career starts against the Rays. Like Lester, he was tattooed by the Rays back in April, allowing 8 runs on 9 hits and 1 walk through 3 1/3 innings of work. Lackey's also been a bit of a mess lately, allowing 15 runs over his last three starts (18 IP), while walking 12 and allowing 4 home runs. He's 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA at The Trop.
Matt Garza (5-2, 2.37) is 6-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 13 career starts against the Sox. He dominated the Sox in April, holding them to 4 hits and no runs through 8 innings in a 7-1 victory. Garza has a 2.73 ERA in 4 May starts, but faced the Mariners twice and the Astros in his last outing - the two worst offenses in the league. I expect the Red Sox to give him more trouble, but he does seem to have our number as of late...
ISN'T THAT SPECIAL
Garza is extremely tough on lefties, holding them to a .190 BA since the starts of 2009. The Red Sox might be better off stacking the lineups with righties, who hit Garza ata .260 clip over the same time frame.
Even though Ellsbury is a lefty, he's 10 for 32 (.313) against Garza. That would be a nice spark for the top of the lineup... if Jacoby is healthy enough to play. Here's what Tito had to say about Ellsbury feelig sore after pre-game BP yesterday:
Ellsbury immediately got an X-ray at Tropicana Field, was examined by the Rays doctor, and received a CT scan. There will be follow-ups to those tests, as well. But the Sox don't exactly know what's wrong with the outfielder, who came off the disabled list against the Phillies this weekend.
As manager Terry Francona said, "It was all good news. It's still, according to their doctor, symptomatic, or how he feels.
"I think he got a little nervous. I understand that."
Asked if the side soreness was related to Ellsbury's ribs, Francona said, "It's hard to imagine it's not. It was in a different area, a little bit over to the side."
Lackey has allowed 8 runs in his April start vs the Rays. In 2009 he faced them once... in The Trop... and gave up 9 runs (8 ER) on 11 hits (2 HR) through 5 innings. Good thing we won the first two games...
KEY MATCH-UPS
Carl Crawford is probably still fuming about his ejection yesterday. If he uses that for motivation, Lackey could be in trouble. Crawford is 14 for 34 (.412) with a HR, 7 RBI and 3 steals against Lackey and is hitting .357 over the past week. Another guy to watch might be DH Hank Blalock, who is 24 for 70 (.324).
Adrian Beltre is the only Sox starter with good numbers against Garza. He's 5 for 13 (.385), but hasn't faced him since 2008 when he went 2 for 11 in two games with Seattle. That said, Beltre is hitting .462 this week. If I had to pick another potential hero, I'd go with Pedroia. He's got two ding dongs off Graza, despite a .189 average and we all know he can grind out some tough at-bats when he wants to.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
