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).

25-12		20-21
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.

More links (bolded) will be added if/when they become available so please check back often.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

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

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Rise Up Together? Also Means You’re Going To Get Some Honesty, Like It Or Not [desmond conner – hartford courant]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Logo Unveiled for 2015 AAC Men’s Basketball Championship [sox & dawgs]

Shabazz Napier’s Craziest Dream: Playing For Celtics [dom amore – hartford courant]

Jim Calhoun: UConn Will “Pay (Kevin Ollie) Exceptionally Well” [david borges – new haven register]

Ollie, Manuel: Talks continue on contract [william paxton – ct post]

UConn notebook: Ollie talks Boatright, 2015, schedule and Omar Calhoun [william paxton – ct post]

Hot Commodity [the american]

UConn president: Ollie contract talks ‘going well’ [ct post]

At NBA Combine, Shabazz Napier Brimming With Confidence [hartford courant]

Jim Calhoun says Kevin Ollie not leaving UConn [new haven register]

Report: Kevin Ollie wants more than Steve Kerr money to jump to NBA [cbssports.com]

Other UConn related links

Baseball. Late Rally Falls Short In 7-6 Loss To UCF In Regular Season FInale [uconn huskies]

Baseball. Ward finds comfort zone while other regional players still searching [ct post]

After going 3-3 on the six game road trip, the Boston Red Sox return to Fenway Park for six games in seven days. Tonight, they’ll kick it off with the first game of a three-game set with the Detroit Tigers in a rematch of the 2013 ALCS.

First pitch, weather permitting, 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.

Jon Lester gets the ball for the Red Sox tonight in his ninth start of 2014. In his previous eight starts, free agent to be Lester, is 4-4 with a 2.75 ERA. He made two starts against the Tigers in 2013 and was 2-0 with a 4.26 ERA (6 ER/12.2 IP). He’s made seven career starts against them and is 2-2 with a 4.63 ERA. Lester was 1-1 in the 2013 ALCS with a 2.31 ERA against them.

Max Scherzer, the reigning AL Cy Young winner and free agent to be as well, makes his ninth start as well. In his previous eight starts, Scherzer is 5-1 with a 2.04 ERA.  In two starts against the Red Sox in 2013, he was 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA (4 ER/14 IP). He’s made eight career starts against the local nine and is 2-4 with a 7.02 ERA. Four of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA. He was 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA in two starts during the 2013 ALCS.

24-12		20-20
1. Rajai Davis	LF	1. Dustin Pedroia	2B
2. Ian Kinsler	2B	2. Grady Sizemore	RF
3. Miguel Cabrera	1B	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Victor Martinez	DH	4. Mike Napoli	1B
5. Torii Hunter	RF	5. Mike Carp	LF
6. Austin Jackson	CF	6. Xander Bogaerts	SS
7. Alex Avila	C	7. Jackie Bradley, Jr.	CF
8. Nick Castellanos	3B	8. Will Middlebrooks	3B
9. Danny Worth	SS	9. David Ross	C
Max Scherzer	SP	Jon Lester	SP

NOTES:

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

More links (bolded) will be added if/when they become available so please check back often.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Manny Ramirez to make his return to Fenway Park on May 28 [sox & dawgs]

Leveling the playing field: How increased information, defensive shifts have led to American League parity [rob bradford – weei]

Red Sox look forward to ‘fun series’ vs. Tigers [csn new england]

Taking stock of the Red Sox at the quarter pole [csn new england]

Victorino (knee) getting MRI, out vs. Tigers [csn new england]

Lester vs. Scherzer makes for one heck of a matchup [csn new england]

Notes: Carp back at it for second straight game [csn new england]

Sox face Scherzer in ALCS rematch vs. Tigers [espn boston]

Victorino ailing; Lester, Scherzer set to duel [espn boston]

Nine to Know: Red Sox vs. Tigers [extra bases]

Jackie Bradley Jr. on The Bradfo Show: ‘They want to see the ‘fro’ [full count]

Red Sox-Tigers series preview [full count]

Shane Victorino to receive MRI on ‘bothersome’ left knee [full count]

Boston Red Sox: What You Need To Know In Wake Of Bruins’ Playoff Exit [nesn]

Rich Hill’s Opt-Out Date Passes; Reliever Remains With Boston Red Sox [nesn]

A Series Matter: Red Sox-Tigers and Adaptation [providence journal]

Following playoff disappointment, Tigers retooled with Red Sox’s approach in mind [providence journal]

Tigers pitcher Robbie Ray has seen Mookie Betts’ potential since high school [providence journal]

Shane Victorino to get MRI on left knee [providence journal]

David Ross gets another start with Jon Lester on the mound [providence journal]

Lester faces Scherzer, Tigers in rematch of ALCS [red sox]

Breslow’s Sip Happens fundraiser set for Monday [red sox]

photo credits: getty images, getty images

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy, joined by UConn Head Coach Kevin Ollie, UConn President Susan Herbst, UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel, American Athletic Conference (The American) Commissioner Mike Aresco, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra, Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) Executive Director Michael Freimuth, and other state and local elected officials, today unveiled the new logo for the 2015 AAC Men’s Basketball Championship. In April, The American announced that the XL Center in downtown Hartford will serve as the site of the 2015 conference tournament.

“Hartford’s selection as the host city for the 2015 men’s tournament has put us back in the basketball tournament business. While this is great news for next year, I am even more excited for what this means for the future and believe we can and should be in consideration for both more American and NCAA tournament events, something I will continue to push for our state,” said Governor Malloy. “We unveiled a new logo today that conveys a message to college basketball fans everywhere: come to Hartford next March. You won’t be disappointed. Go Huskies!”

The XL Center is the Hartford home of UConn’s NCAA champion men’s and women’s basketball teams, and previously served as a home site for the NBA’s Boston Celtics. The facility has hosted a number of NCAA Championship women’s basketball games and was the site of the Big East Women’s Basketball Championship from 1994 to 2013, during which the tournament led all leagues in women’s basketball conference tournament attendance, bringing in a total of more than 1,000,000 fans over the years.

“The American Athletic Conference is proud to be bringing its 2015 men’s basketball championship to the city of Hartford and the XL Center,” said American Commissioner Aresco. “I want to thank Governor Malloy, who was actively engaged in the process and is personally committed to this great event. I also want to recognize Andy Bessette and Mike Freimuth from the Capital Regional Development Authority and Chris Lawrence from the XL Center, who all played integral roles in presenting a compelling bid that we ultimately accepted.”

“We are excited and proud that the XL Center will be the site for next season’s men’s championship tournament,” said Coach Ollie. “It will give more of our great fans in Connecticut a chance to watch the intensity and competitiveness of postseason play. Last year’s tournament in Memphis brought together some of the top teams in the country and I know next year in Hartford will do the same. We want to keep Connecticut in the college basketball spotlight.”

“This is a very exciting day as we continue to celebrate the American Athletic Conference men’s basketball championship being held in XL Center next March,” said President Herbst. “I want to again congratulate and all those who worked so hard to bring the tournament to downtown Hartford. Our University is deeply invested in the continued growth of our capital city and this will be another great opportunity to showcase all Hartford has to offer.”

“In March and April, the entire nation saw that Connecticut was the ‘Basketball Capital of the World’ as both our men’s and women’s teams won NCAAs titles,” said UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel. “The playing of the American Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament in Hartford next March makes the title even more appropriate. We believe that our loyal UConn fans will once again fill the XL Center for our men’s and women’s basketball games in 2014-15 and that will continue during the 2015 American men’s tournament.”

“The logo looks fantastic. I’m so proud to see Hartford’s name on it, further proof of our city’s on-going role as a sports destination for the state,” said Mayor Segarra. “I echo what Governor Malloy has said: come to Hartford next March. We look forward to hosting all the fans and working with the AAC on making the tournament an experience beyond expectations.”

“The reinvestment in the XL Center has made it possible to bring an event as large and significant as the AAC 2015 Men’s Tournament to the City of Hartford,” said CRDA Executive Director Mike Freimuth. “We look forward to hosting this elite competition and watching UConn as it begins another post season run.”

The American’s membership in 2014-15 will include UCF, Cincinnati, UConn, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, USF, SMU, Temple, Tulane and Tulsa. All 11 American schools will participate in the 2015 championship. The format calls for three first-round games on the first day, followed by four quarterfinal games, two semifinals and the championship game. The ESPN Networks will provide television and digital coverage of the tournament. Dates for the 2015 championship will be announced in the near future.

The 2014-15 season will be the second straight year in which The American has the defending men’s and women’s NCAA champions in its ranks. The American was the only conference to place a team in the semifinals of the NCAA Men’s Final Four, the NCAA Women’s Final Four, the NIT and the WNIT last season.

Aside from the many basketball events held at the XL Center, the facility is the home of the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League and hosted the NHL’s Hartford Whalers. The seating capacity for basketball at the XL Center is 16,294.

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Former UConn OL Steve Greene heading to Redskins camp [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn’s Donohue heading to Eagles rookie camp [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

UConn in the WNBA 2014 [sox & dawgs]

Kelsey Bone Understands What Natalie Butler Is About To Deal With [john altavilla – hartford courant]

Busy summer for incoming UConn freshman [jim fuller – new haven register]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Ollie, Bike to be honored at Franciscan Sports Banquet [william paxton – ct post]

DeAndre Daniels Heeds Ollie’s Advice At NBA Combine [hartford courant]

UConn’s Kevin Ollie Will Help Unveil AAC Tourney Logo Today [hartford courant]

UConn’s Shabazz Napier endorses coach Kevin Ollie: NBA Draft Combine 2014 [cleveland plain dealer]

First Look: After UConn’s championship, more changes are coming to the AAC in Year 2 [sports illustrated]

Other UConn related links

UConn Club. The Annual UConn Club Golf Tournament Set for June 9 [uconn huskies]

M. Ice Hockey. Hockey East Approves Expanded Playoff Format [uconn huskies]

Baseball. UConn Rallies For 5-4 Victory Over UCF In Series Opener [uconn huskies]

Baseball. Verdi’s Walkoff Secures Doubleheader Sweep Over UCF, Clinches Postseason [uconn huskies]