Red Sox go for four-game sweep of Detroit Tigers at Fenway
Red Sox go for four-game sweep of Detroit Tigers at Fenway
Justin Verlander has the task of pitching the Tigers past the Red Sox this afternoon in order for Detroit to avoid a four-game sweep at Fenway Park in Boston.
When this series started on Monday, Boston seemed lifeless after being humiliated in a four-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees in the Bronx. Now the Red Sox are in position to get those four losses back this afternoon in the finale of the four-game set against the Tigers.
Boston’s offense has recovered this week after scoring eight runs the entire series in New York, six of those in the 13-6 series opening loss. After close, and hotly contests, 6-5 and 7-5 wins over Detroit on Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday’s 8-2 triumph found the Sox in control the entire game, thanks to Mike Lowell’s punch at the plate and Josh Beckett’s control of Tigers hitters from the mound. The win on Wednesday marked the seventh straight game Boston has beaten Detroit, and gave them their 11th win in the last 13 series meetings.
Now it’s Clay Buchholz’ (2-3, 5.33) turn to take to the hill in today’s getaway contest when he will face Motown ace Justin Verlander (15-9, 3.45).
The seven-game win streak Boston has over the Tigers actually started the last time Verlander faced the Sox. That came on May 8 of last year in Detroit when the Sox whipped him 5-1, with Verlander working six and allowing all five Boston runs. His last start at Fenway was May 15, 2007, and he tossed a gem allowing two runs in 7.2 innings, no walks against seven strikeouts.
The hitters in this Boston lineup have tagged him pretty well over time, hitting .350 (35-for-100) with nine homers and a very strong 1.059 OPS. Victor Martinez, who saw Verlander many times as a member of the Indians, has four of those flies with Kevin Youkilis taking the righthander out of Old Dominion deep twice in 10 at bats.
Verlander won’t have to worry about Youkilis tonight after the Boston slugger started his five-game suspension yesterday for his part in Tuesday night’s melee. Detroit pitcher Rick Porcello was also suspended five games.
But Verlander will have to worry about his recent downtown that has seen him allow 10 earnies (14 IP) in his two starts so far in August, with Detroit 1-1 in those games.
Buchholz’ biggest problem this season has been control with the Texan walking 16 in just 25.1 innings. He has been very good at keeping the ball out of the air with a 3:2 ground ball to fly ball ratio, plus does have 17 Ks in the 25.1 innings of work.
He’s faced the Tigers just once before in his short career, that coming in 2008 at Comerica in Detroit with the Motown side winning a 10-9 slugfest. Buchholz worked the first four innings of that game and was charged with five runs in a no-decision.
Scott Barry will be the ump behind the plate for this one, bringing a 13-13 record (Home-Away straight up wins) and 10-15-1 O/U mark with him. He’s provided a slight advantage for visiting favorites in this price range, and is 7-14-1 O/U when the total is within the 8½-10 span which this one is (9).
With the Tigers and Red Sox not scheduled against each other the rest of the season, the umps will be pressed to get this game through at least five innings, and that could be a problem with a 70% chance of light rain and showers throughout the day. It’s going to be on the cool side with a game time temp in the upper 60s, and winds are forecast at 5-10 out of the NE (from RF corner across to the Green Monstah).
Despite Verlander’s recent outings, Buchholz’ overall stats this season and the fact the Boston offense has awakened the past few days, I’m going to lean with the ump’s numbers this year on the totals and take the Under 9 for this matinee at The Fens.
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they start games. Statistical sources for this article were Retrosheet.org, Baseball-Reference.com and ESPN.com
Justin Verlander has the task of pitching the Tigers past the Red Sox this afternoon in order for Detroit to avoid a four-game sweep at Fenway Park in Boston.
When this series started on Monday, Boston seemed lifeless after being humiliated in a four-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees in the Bronx. Now the Red Sox are in position to get those four losses back this afternoon in the finale of the four-game set against the Tigers.
Boston’s offense has recovered this week after scoring eight runs the entire series in New York, six of those in the 13-6 series opening loss. After close, and hotly contests, 6-5 and 7-5 wins over Detroit on Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday’s 8-2 triumph found the Sox in control the entire game, thanks to Mike Lowell’s punch at the plate and Josh Beckett’s control of Tigers hitters from the mound. The win on Wednesday marked the seventh straight game Boston has beaten Detroit, and gave them their 11th win in the last 13 series meetings.
Now it’s Clay Buchholz’ (2-3, 5.33) turn to take to the hill in today’s getaway contest when he will face Motown ace Justin Verlander (15-9, 3.45).
The seven-game win streak Boston has over the Tigers actually started the last time Verlander faced the Sox. That came on May 8 of last year in Detroit when the Sox whipped him 5-1, with Verlander working six and allowing all five Boston runs. His last start at Fenway was May 15, 2007, and he tossed a gem allowing two runs in 7.2 innings, no walks against seven strikeouts.
The hitters in this Boston lineup have tagged him pretty well over time, hitting .350 (35-for-100) with nine homers and a very strong 1.059 OPS. Victor Martinez, who saw Verlander many times as a member of the Indians, has four of those flies with Kevin Youkilis taking the righthander out of Old Dominion deep twice in 10 at bats.
Verlander won’t have to worry about Youkilis tonight after the Boston slugger started his five-game suspension yesterday for his part in Tuesday night’s melee. Detroit pitcher Rick Porcello was also suspended five games.
But Verlander will have to worry about his recent downtown that has seen him allow 10 earnies (14 IP) in his two starts so far in August, with Detroit 1-1 in those games.
Buchholz’ biggest problem this season has been control with the Texan walking 16 in just 25.1 innings. He has been very good at keeping the ball out of the air with a 3:2 ground ball to fly ball ratio, plus does have 17 Ks in the 25.1 innings of work.
He’s faced the Tigers just once before in his short career, that coming in 2008 at Comerica in Detroit with the Motown side winning a 10-9 slugfest. Buchholz worked the first four innings of that game and was charged with five runs in a no-decision.
Scott Barry will be the ump behind the plate for this one, bringing a 13-13 record (Home-Away straight up wins) and 10-15-1 O/U mark with him. He’s provided a slight advantage for visiting favorites in this price range, and is 7-14-1 O/U when the total is within the 8½-10 span which this one is (9).
With the Tigers and Red Sox not scheduled against each other the rest of the season, the umps will be pressed to get this game through at least five innings, and that could be a problem with a 70% chance of light rain and showers throughout the day. It’s going to be on the cool side with a game time temp in the upper 60s, and winds are forecast at 5-10 out of the NE (from RF corner across to the Green Monstah).
Despite Verlander’s recent outings, Buchholz’ overall stats this season and the fact the Boston offense has awakened the past few days, I’m going to lean with the ump’s numbers this year on the totals and take the Under 9 for this matinee at The Fens.
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they start games. Statistical sources for this article were Retrosheet.org, Baseball-Reference.com and ESPN.com
