First Pitch: Thursday 7:10, Friday 7:10, Saturday 1:35, Sunday 1:35
Arms: Thursday: Zach McAllister, RHP (3-3, 2.65 ERA) vs. Ryan Dempster, RHP (2-4, 4.27 ERA)
Friday: Justin Masterson, RHP (7-2, 2.83 ERA) vs. John Lackey, RHP (2-4, 3.31 ERA)
Saturday: Scott Kazmir, LHP (2-2, 6.35 ERA) vs. Jon Lester, LHP (6-1, 3.15 ERA)
Sunday: Corey Kluber, RHP (3-3, 5.19 ERA) vs. Felix Doubront, LHP (3-2, 5.61 ERA)
The Matchup
| Record: 26-19 (1st AL Central) |
Record: 28-19 (2nd AL East) |
| On road: 11-9 |
At home: 13-10 |
| Streak: L2 |
Streak: W1 |
| Leaders at the plate |
Leaders at the plate |
| Average: Gomes (.316) |
Average: Ortiz (.351) |
| Homers: Reynolds (12) |
Homers: Middlebrooks (8) |
| RBI: Reynolds (37) |
RBI: Napoli (35) |
| Leaders on the mound | Leaders on the mound |
| Wins: Masterson (7) |
Wins: Buchholz (7) |
| ERA: McAllister (2.65) | Smith (1.13) |
ERA: Buchholz (1.73) | Breslow (1.17) |
| K's: Masterson (71) |
K's: Buchholz (73) |
Last time
The Sox bitch-slapped the Indians in Cleveland a little over a month ago. The Sox swept Cleveland with ease.
Ubaldo Jimenez only lasted 1 2/3, surrendering 7 runs on only 2 hits! Yeah, 2 hits. Most of the damage was associated with the 5 walks he gave up. Napoli had the big bat in that game, with a pair of doubles and 3 ribbies.
The Sox got a rare positive offensive performance against Justin Masterson, tagging him for 4 runs on 11 hits. Mike Napoli came up big again with a double and 2 RBI. Daniel Nava also came up with a pair of RBI in the second game.
Guess which two players came up big in game 3. Yup, you guessed it...I assumed you guessed it and didn't read on to see the names. Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava. Napoli dug out a triple while knocking in a run in another multi-hit game, and Nava drove in another pair of runs. Please, repeat this performance.
This time
Laser Show: David Ortiz
Don't Fall Behind: Justin Freakin' Masterson
How we see it goin' down
Cleveland has turned that tough start around and are atop the AL Central. They have played well over the last month, and have gotten some quality starts from the rotation. Terry Francona's return to Fenway is going to be interesting and hard fought. This has series split written all over it and it will be fun to watch.
