After losing 2-of-3 games in Toronto, the Boston Red Sox had yesterday off and now finish their 10-game road trip up with the Detroit Tigers. The Red Sox are currently 3-4 on the trip.
The game tonight will start at 7:05 PM EDT and will be televised in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Tigers television market, you can catch the game on FOX Sports Detroit. And if the television isn’t your cup of tea, you can catch the game on one of the many affiliates of the Red Sox Radio Network.
Daisuke Matsuzaka hasn’t pitched well in his two starts back from the disabled list and looks to change that tonight against the Tigers. In 4 starts this season, he is 0-3 with a 8.82 ERA. He has faced the Tigers four times in his career and is 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA. In two starts at Comerica, he is 1-1 with a 6.30 ERA.
Jim Leyland turns the ball over to rookie Rick Porcello who has won his last 5 starts. Overall on the season, Porcello is 6-3 with a 3.48 ERA in 9 starts. In 4 starts at Comerica, Porcello is 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA and he’s never faced the Red Sox in his short career.
The Red Sox announced that Jeff Bailey had been optioned back to Pawtucket after the game on Sunday and have activated Mark Kotsay from the 15-day DL. Kotsay will act as a backup outfielder and Youk’s backup at first base as well as give the Red Sox a lefty bat off the bench.
New faces [Extra Bases]
Pitching has made Tigers a contender again, and tonight’s starter is a stud [Projo Sox Blog]
What if Red Sox had won Teixeira bidding war? [Projo Sox Blog]
Kotsay back in the fold, finally [Projo Sox Blog]
It’s hard to say goodbye to David Ortiz [Bill Simmons – ESPN The Mag]
Daisuke Has No Regrets [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
Red Sox Report Card: No, Barbara Hersey Didn’t Shoot Nick Green [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
Opposing Thoughts: Tigers need offense against Boston [NESN.com]
Five Reasons Why I Can’t Wait For the Return of Mark Kotsay [Surviving Grady]
How diehard are you? Topic: collectibles [Batter-up with Bruno]
Here are the lineups for tonight’s game:
29-22 |
28-21 |
||
1. Dustin Pedroia | 2B | 1. Clete Thomas | RF |
2. J.D, Drew | RF | 2. Placido Polanco | 2B |
3. Kevin Youkilis | 1B | 3. Magglio Ordonez | DH |
4. Jason Bay | LF | 4. Miguel Cabrera | 1B |
5. Mike Lowell | 3B | 5. Curtis Granderson | CF |
6. David Ortiz | DH | 6. Brandon Inge | 3B |
7. Jason Varitek | C | 7. Josh Anderson | LF |
8. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF | 8. Gerald Laird | C |
9. Nick Green | SS | 9. Ramon Santiago | SS |
Daisuke Matsuzaka | SP | Rick Porcello | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers. No one on the Red Sox has faced Porcello.