First Pitch: Friday 7:10, Saturday 7:10, Sunday 1:35
Arms: Friday: Felix Hernandez, RHP (8-8, 3.26 ERA) vs. John Lackey, RHP (7-8, 6.70 ERA)
Saturday: Blake Beavan, RHP (1-1, 2.70 ERA) vs. Josh Beckett, RHP (8-3, 2.12 ERA)
Sunday: Michael Pineda, RHP (8-6, 3.24 ERA) vs. Tim Wakefield, RHP (5-3, 4.80 ERA)
Yard: Fenway Park Watch it: NESN Hear it: WEEI
The Matchup
Last time
Seattle came into town on April 29 - May 1 and gave the Sox some trouble as they showed signs of pulling out of the slump. Each game was decided by 2 runs or less and the Red Sox avoided the sweep with a 3-2 victory on that Sunday.
This time
Laser Show: Jacoby Ellsbury & Dustin Pedroia
Jacoby Ellsbury has got everything going for him right now and he will see all right-handers this weekend. Coming off of a .500 performance at the place in the last series with a pair of homers in the 3rd game, Ells will be making a run at Gonzo's .343 average.
Dustin Pedroia currently has an 18 game hit streak and we all know he fully expects to come out of this series with a 21 game streak. It will be tough against Hernandez, but Pedey will make him work.
Pitch Around: No One
This Mariners lineup is not very good. Their "power hitter", Miguel Olivo is only batting .216, and leads the team with 13 homers and 44 RBI. Weak. Ichiro is on pace for his worst offensive season in the MLB. Dustin Ackley is the best hitter in terms of average (.281), and that's a stretch because he only has 96 AB's, which is just under our requirement of 100 AB's for the team lead. I just wanted to be nice.
Don't Fall Behind: Felix Hernandez
Reigning Cy Young award winner should be enough reason to be concerned. Against the Red Sox in his career, Hernandez is 4-1, with a 2.87 ERA, and 59 K's over 62 2/3 innings. Ready to get blown off you seat? J.D. Drew has had the most success against Felix in his career, batting .391, with 2 homers and 2 RBI. Still not enough to convince me that this will be Drew's turning point.
The other two starters going for the Mariners in this series are no one to mess with. Hernandez's 3.26 ERA is the highest among their starters this weekend, so the Sox will have their hands full in this series.
How we see it goin' down
I want to say Sox sweep, and it has not worked well over the past 2 series and I don't feel good about a sweep. Even with Seattle's 12 game losing streak, I feel it's about time that John Lackey will let us down, and Felix Hernandez will win the fight in game 1. Other than that, the Red Sox will take the next 2 games.
