Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 5/23/14

After being swept on their six-game homestand, the Boston Red Sox head out on the road for the next five games. They’ll kick it off tonight with the first game of a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

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 Rays television market, you can catch the game on Sun Sports. And if you can’t catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2014 Red Sox Radio Network.

John Lackey makes his 10th start of the 2014 campaign. In his previous nine starts, Lackey is 5-3 with a 4.01 ERA. He picked up the win against the Rays on April 29 when he allowed two runs over eight innings of work. He’s made 22 career starts against the Rays and is 13-7 with a 4.27 ERA. 10 of those starts have come at the Trop where he is 4-5 with a 6.83 ERA.

Chris Archer toes the rubber for the 10th time in 2014 as well. In his previous nine starts, Archer is 3-2 with a 4.59 ERA. He picked up a no decision on May 1 against the Red Sox after allowing five runs in 4.2 innings. He’s made four career starts against the Red Sox and is 1-2 with a 6.38 ERA. He has pitched 5 innings or less in all four of those starts.

20-26		20-28
1. Brock Holt	3B	1. David DeJesus	DH
2. Xander Bogaerts	SS	2. Evan Longoria	3B
3. Dustin Pedroia	2B	3. Matthew Joyce	LF
4. David Ortiz	DH	4. Wil Myers	RF
5. Mike Napoli	1B	5. James Loney	1B
6. A.J. Pierzynski	C	6. Desmond Jennings	CF
7. Shane Victorino	RF	7. Sean Rodriguez	2B
8. Grady Sizemore	LF	8. Yunel Escobar	SS
9. Jackie Bradley, Jr.	CF	9. Ryan Hanigan	C
John Lackey	SP	Chris Archer	SP

NOTES:

SS Stephen Drew cleared optional waivers and has been assigned to Single-A Greenville. RP Alex Wilson has been recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Drew’s spot on the 25-man roster.

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