Rick Porcello (L), John Lackey (R)

After falling last night, the Boston Red Sox look to get back on the track tonight in the middle game of a three-game set with the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Tigers television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Detroit. If you don’t live in either market you’re in luck as the MLB Network will have coverage of the game (outside of Red Sox and Tigers television markets). And if you can’t catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2014 Red Sox Radio Network.

John Lackey looks to get the Red Sox back to .500 in his ninth start of 2014. In his previous eight starts, Lackey is 5-2 with a 3.57 ERA. He made two starts against the Tigers in 2013 and was 0-1 with a 3.14 ERA (5 ER/14.1 IP). He’s made 12 career starts against them and is 6-3 with a 3.86 ERA.

Rick Porcello makes his eighth start of 2014 tonight. In his previous seven starts, Porcello is 6-1 with a 3.22 ERA. He took the loss in his lone start of 2013 against the Red Sox when he allowed nine runs (eight earned) in five innings of work. He’s made five career starts against the local nine and is 1-3 with a 10.42 ERA. Three of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 1-1 with a 10.03 ERA (13 ER/11.2 IP).

Detroit Tigers25-12 Boston Red Sox20-21
1. Ian Kinsler 2B 1. Dustin Pedroia 2B
2. Torii Hunter RF 2. Shane Victorino RF
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B 3. David Ortiz DH
4. Victor Martinez DH 4. Mike Napoli 1B
5. Austin Jackson CF 5. Grady Sizemore CF
6. Nick Castellanos 3B 6. Mike Carp LF
7. Alex Avila C 7. A.J. Pierzynski C
8. Andrew Romine SS 8. Xander Bogaerts SS
9. Rajai Davis LF 9. Brock Holt 3B
Rick Porcello SP John Lackey SP

NOTES:

Will Middlebrooks has been placed on the 15-day DL with a fractured finger. As you can see from the lineup, Holt has been recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Here is how the hitters have fared against the starting pitchers during the regular season over their careers.

Detroit Tigers @ Boston Red Sox Batter/Pitcher Matchups

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Lackey vs. Porcello as Sox try to rebound [espn boston]

Lackey out to continue his success against Tigers [red sox]

Growing pains: As struggles deepen, Red Sox face dilemmas with youth movement [alex speier – weei]

photo credits: getty images, getty images