Red Sox (32-24) @ Orioles (15-40)
Boston's starters have completed six innings in six straight and in 11 of their last 13 games. They have nine quality starts in that span. ... Jonathan Papelbon has an 0.84 ERA in 34 career appearances against Baltimore, the lowest for a Major Leaguer with at least 30 innings against the Orioles. ... Jon Lester went 5-0 with a 1.84 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 44 May innings, and he has another interesting distinction, other than Lester, nobody else has ever started out his career 10-0 against the Orioles, and it's only happened once before in franchise history.
Jon Lester (6-2,2.97)
The power lefty has been dominant in recent weeks. In Lester's last start, he defeated the Royals, giving up four hits and one run over seven innings. In six May starts, Lester went 5-0 with a 1.84 ERA. Lester has given up two earned runs or fewer in seven of his past eight starts. Lester has held opponents to a .195 average on the season. Lester won his only start against the Orioles this season, firing 5 2/3 shutout innings on April 23. Lester has dazzled at Camden Yards throughout his career, going 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA in six starts.
Jeremy Guthrie (3-5,3.84)
Guthrie allowed three runs in a 26-pitch first inning at Toronto, battling through six frames and allowing four earned runs on seven hits. The right-hander took sole blame for Sunday's series-finale loss, which was his fifth defeat this season. Still, Guthrie has pitched well for the O's and prior to Sunday's start he had allowed just one earned run in his last three outings. He has struggled against the Red Sox, going 1-5 with a career ERA of 4.72 in 13 games (12 starts). The right-hander has completed at least six innings in six straight starts and allowed three earned runs or fewer four times, but he's 3-2 over that span.
Guthrie has held the opposition to a .217 batting average in his last six starts, and he's allowed more than one home run in just one of his first 11 starts. The former first-round Draft pick went 0-3 in April, and the Orioles are hoping his improvement sticks in June.
-1.5 RL