Well after finishing up their 10 game losing streak and winning four games against the Atlanta Braves, the Red Sox and Rays are right back to where they were last week.
Boston is once again slightly ahead of Tampa Bay in the American League East standings. Tonight will be a match up of righty Brandon Workman going against the lefty David Price. Last week Price was completely let off the hook by the Red Sox. After giving up five runs in the first inning the Red Sox would not score again in the game. Eventually the tie would be broken in 15 innings and the Red Sox losing streak would continue.
When it comes to hitting Price this year your best bet is to take a swing at his first pitch. When the swing at the first pitch batters are hitting .417 and have a slugging percentage of .694. For the most part Price keeps his first pitch over on the outside part of the plate, so if you don't swing it's going to be a strike but if you're ready for the outside pitch you could do some damage. Although Price is a lefty, lefties do seem to be hitting him better than righties this season. This will be Price's 12th start of the season. With a record of 4-4, he has an ERA of 4.42 and a whip of 1.18. While those are pretty good numbers, probably the most impressive of his statistics this season is the fact that he's only walked eight batters and has thrown two complete games.
Tonight will be Workman's second start in a Red Sox uniform this season. His last start was against Tampa Bay where he threw 88 pitches and lasted five innings. Although he only gave up five hits and three runs during that timeframe the Red Sox would lose the game 8 to 5. Workman will be happy to see that Ben Zobrist is still on the disabled list as he has gone three for three against Workman in the past. Two players who should be on Workman's radar that are not on the DL are James Loney and Evan Longoria. Loney has gone two for six with one homerun and three RBIs while Longoria is four for seven with one homerun, one double, and two RBIs.
Hopefully Workman can last longer in this start than he did last time out. But if he doesn't the bullpen is in really good shape after last night's eight inning performance by Jake Peavy.
- Holt, 3B
- Bogaerts, SS
- Pedroia, 2B
- Ortiz, DH
- Gomes, LF
- Pierzynski, C
- Carp, 1B
- Sizemore, RF
- Bradley Jr., CF
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