Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 8/6

After being swept in a brief two-game set in Tampa, the Boston Red Sox flew north to prepare for a 4-game set with their bitter rivals, the New York Yankees.

Tonight’s game will start at 7:05 PM and will be covered on the NESN in the Red Sox television market. In the Tampa area, you can catch the game on MY9. For those not in the Red Sox or Yankees television markets, you’re in luck tonight as the game will be broadcast on the MLB Network. If the television isn’t your cup of tea, you can also catch the game on the radio on one of the many affiliates of the Red Sox Radio Network.

John Smoltz makes his 8th start for the Red Sox and Terry Francona but his first in the rivalry. He’s 2-4 with a 7.12 ERA. He’s made 2 career starts against the Yankees and has no record with a 4.50 ERA. Both of those starts came at the old Yankee Stadium.

Joba Chamberlain makes his 21st start tonight for the Joe Girardi-led Yankees. He is 7-2 with a 3.58 ERA and is 3-0 with a 0.83 ERA since the All-Star break. Joba has made 2 starts against the Red Sox this season and is 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA. He’s made 8 appearances (4 starts) against the Red Sox in his career and is 2-1 with a 3.49 ERA. He’s made 4 appearances (2 starts) against the Red Sox at home and is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA.

Ortiz will speak Saturday [Extra Bases]

Sox-Yanks pitching breakdown [Extra Bases]

Henry: ‘We want to hear the facts before we say anything’ [Extra Bases]

Reddick in the house [Extra Bases]

Baldelli to DL, Reddick back up, Bay probably out all series [Clubhouse Insider]

Ortiz to speak on Saturday [Clubhouse Insider]

Update: Baldelli placed on DL because of ankle injury [Projo Sox Blog]

Scapegoat [Center Field]

Out Of Left Field: Youkilis [Center Field]

Here are the starting lineups for tonight’s game:

And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers: