RED SOX LOOK TO PUSH WINNING STREAK TO 8 AGAINST FORMER PITCHER AND MANAGER

In game one of a three-game series between the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians, John Lackey will be pitching against former Red Sox righty Justin Masterson.

Lackey enters the game with a 3.27 ERA and a 6-3 record. In his last two starts he's pitched a total of 13 1/3 innings giving up 0 earned runs, 13 hits, 1 walk and 12 strikeouts. The past three seasons Lackey has pitched two games against the Cleveland Indians. In those start he's pitched a total of 13 2/3 innings and only given up five earned runs. He recorded 13 total strikeouts while walking on three batters. Collectively, Indian batters only hit .204 against him.

The two players who have hit Lackey pretty well in the past are David Murphy and Jason Giambi. Murphy has gone 7 for 19 with 2 doubles and a triple. Murphy is currently on a five game hitting streak it is hitting .270 on the season. Giambi on the other hand is only hitting .143. Of course he has only had 22 at-bats this season and has recently collected two homeruns. Against Lackey, Giambi has gone 13 for 40, with 3 home runs, 2 doubles, 5 walks and 5 strikeouts.

So far this season Masterson has a 2-4 record and an ERA of 5.21. Although he has collected 58 strikeouts he has also walked 33 batters. The former Red Sox pitcher is currently struggling with his velocity. While Masterson used to be able to light up the gun with 99 mile-per-hour fastballs he has not topped 94 yet this season.

Masterson's last start only lasted three innings due to an extra long rain delay. In his two games prior, Masterson went 5 2/3 against Baltimore giving up five earned runs and eight hits. He also only lasted 4 1/3 innings against Oakland where he gave up seven earned runs on seven hits and five walks.

In his previous five games against the Red Sox, Masterson has had a 5.87 ERA and pitched an average of 6 innings.




This season Masterson has really been benefiting from guys grounding into double plays. So far he has been the recipient of 13 of them. Hopefully, the Red Sox bats don't get back into that habit tonight.  A little fun fact for you about Masterson is it he was born in Jamaica.

Red Sox Lineup

1. Holt 1B
2. Bogaerts 3B
3. Pedroia 2B
4. Ortiz DH
5. Pierzynski C
6. Gomes LF
7. Sizemore RF
8. Drew SS
9. Bradley Jr. CF

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