GAME 3
The Rays look to win the deciding game of their home series against the Red Sox on Sunday night, which would give them a 6 1/2-game lead for a playoff spot. Tampa Bay, which has won 16 of 21 at home, will turn Sunday to James Shields (12-11, 4.76 ERA), who finally seems to be enjoying some success of his own at Tropicana Field. After going 1-5 with a 5.59 ERA in his first nine starts there this season, Shields is 3-1 with a 2.42 ERA in his last four home outings.The right-hander leads the Rays in losses, but has won five of his last seven starts overall, including the last two. He struck out 10 and allowed three runs in six innings of a 4-3 win against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. In doing so, Shields matched Scott Kazmir's career franchise records for starts (144) and wins (55). Shields is 1-2 with a 5.03 ERA in three starts against the Red Sox this season, including a loss at home May 25. In his most recent meeting with Boston on June 29 at Fenway Park, he gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings of an 8-5 loss.
John Lackey (12-7, 4.51), who will take the mound Sunday for Boston, opposed Shields in that game and gave up one run in seven innings. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 5.94 ERA against the Rays during his first season with the Red Sox.That season has been unspectacular for Lackey, who sports an ERA above 4.00 for the first time since 2004. He has won his last two starts, though, including a 6-3 win over Seattle on Monday in which he allowed three runs in eight innings.Victor Martinez went 4 for 5 with a home run in Saturday's loss after recording three hits, including two homers, in Friday's win. The Red Sox catcher, who is hitting .448 with eight RBIs in his last seven games, is 6 for 16 against Shields. The Rays Bullpen has only blown 4 saves all year long at Tropicana Feild but as consistant as James has been lately. I don't think he will get this one.
1* BOSTON RED SOX +130
The Rays look to win the deciding game of their home series against the Red Sox on Sunday night, which would give them a 6 1/2-game lead for a playoff spot. Tampa Bay, which has won 16 of 21 at home, will turn Sunday to James Shields (12-11, 4.76 ERA), who finally seems to be enjoying some success of his own at Tropicana Field. After going 1-5 with a 5.59 ERA in his first nine starts there this season, Shields is 3-1 with a 2.42 ERA in his last four home outings.The right-hander leads the Rays in losses, but has won five of his last seven starts overall, including the last two. He struck out 10 and allowed three runs in six innings of a 4-3 win against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. In doing so, Shields matched Scott Kazmir's career franchise records for starts (144) and wins (55). Shields is 1-2 with a 5.03 ERA in three starts against the Red Sox this season, including a loss at home May 25. In his most recent meeting with Boston on June 29 at Fenway Park, he gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings of an 8-5 loss.
John Lackey (12-7, 4.51), who will take the mound Sunday for Boston, opposed Shields in that game and gave up one run in seven innings. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 5.94 ERA against the Rays during his first season with the Red Sox.That season has been unspectacular for Lackey, who sports an ERA above 4.00 for the first time since 2004. He has won his last two starts, though, including a 6-3 win over Seattle on Monday in which he allowed three runs in eight innings.Victor Martinez went 4 for 5 with a home run in Saturday's loss after recording three hits, including two homers, in Friday's win. The Red Sox catcher, who is hitting .448 with eight RBIs in his last seven games, is 6 for 16 against Shields. The Rays Bullpen has only blown 4 saves all year long at Tropicana Feild but as consistant as James has been lately. I don't think he will get this one.
1* BOSTON RED SOX +130