Miami @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 13, 2012 ) Boston 10, Miami 2
The Miami Marlins have hit a pronounced swoon in June, losing 10 of their last 12 heading into Tuesday's road tilt versus the Boston Red Sox. Included in their long list of setbacks was a tough 2-1 decision to Clay Buchholz and Boston last week. Miami will look to get its sluggish offense untracked in a return date against Buchholz, who has won three straight starts.
Boston took two of three from the Chicago Cubs to level its record after 66 games. With the first-place New York Yankees winning 10 straight contests, the Red Sox find themselves in the basement of the American League East - eight games behind their long-time rivals. Boston has won just 14 of 33 contests at Fenway Park this season.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSFL (Miami), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins LH Mark Buehrle (5-7, 3.41 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (7-2, 5.38 ERA)
Buehrle will be looking to snap a three-game losing skid when he takes the mound on Tuesday. The 33-year-old has been done in by a lack of run support in his last two trips to the mound. Buehrle allowed two runs and five hits in last week's loss to Boston.
Buchholz was just a touch better in last week's game, permitting one run on five hits while striking out a season-high nine batters. The 27-year-old has been dominant over his last three outings - allowing a total of three runs and 15 hits over 24 innings. Buchholz has seen his ERA drop from a gaudy 9.09 on May 6 to a more-respectable 5.38.
WALK-OFFS
1. Former Marlin Cody Ross may get a chance to face his former team after missing the previous series with a fractured navicular bone in his left foot.
2. David Ortiz, who is swinging a hot bat, has blasted seven of his 16 homers this season versus left-handed pitchers. Catcher Kelly Shoppach is 7-for-16 with three homers in his career versus Buehrle.
3. Miami second baseman Omar Infante is expected to return to the starting lineup, despite being mired in a 2-for-28 slump. He went 0-for-7 with four strikeouts in Saturday's 15-inning game.