Baltimore @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( May 17, 2011 ) Baltimore 0, Boston 0
THE STORY: Andrew Miller is suddenly an important piece in the Boston Red Sox' rotation. The lefthander looks for his third straight win as the wounded Red Sox host the last-place Baltimore Orioles in the first of a four-game series Thursday night. Boston placed lefthander Jon Lester on the disabled list Wednesday where he joins Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz, two other valuable members of the starting five. Despite the injuries, the Red Sox are one-half game out of first place in the American League East. Baltimore, which is 13-39 in its last 52 games at Boston, will go with Jake Arrieta, who is looking to snap a three-game slide.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Jake Arrieta (9-5, 4.74 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Andew Miller (2-0, 3.06).
One thing about Arrieta is that he gets a decision in almost every game he pitches. Arrieta has made 17 starts and only three times has he not garnered the decision. Baltimore is 10-7 in his outings, including a 5-4 loss at Atlanta last time out when the 25-year-old allowed five runs in six innings. Arrieta has faced Boston once, allowing three runs in five innings in a game last season which the Red Sox won 9-6. Boston has won all three of Miller’s starts. Miller limited Houston to two runs in six innings last outing when Boston hammered the Astros 10-4, and he allowed one earned run in a 4-2 win at Pittsburgh. Miller has been plagued by control problems throughout his career but has been relatively sharp in his short time with Boston. He has allowed seven walks in 17 2/3 innings. He has faced Baltimore once, allowing one run in seven innings in 2009.
ABOUT THE RED SOX (51-35): Boston slugger Adrian Gonzalez missed Wednesday’s game with a stiff neck and is questionable for the series opener against the Orioles. Gonzalez leads the majors with 75 RBIs and was the Player of the Month for June, but has cooled off lately, going 7 for his last 32. The Red Sox have been relying heavily on their bullpen and with a shaky rotation, that workload will certainly increase. Daniel Bard continues to be their anchor. Bard hasn’t allowed a run in his last 17 appearances and although Jonathan Papelbon has a lofty 4.01 ERA, he has converted saves in 19 of his 20 chances. Papelbon is unlikely to be available after pitching long innings the past two nights.
ABOUT THE ORIOLES (36-48): When Texas scored four runs in the first inning Wednesday night, it meant the Orioles have surrendered at least four runs in a game in their last 14 outings. Baltimore has plummeted to the bottom of the AL East standings after losing eight of their last nine games. The Orioles were swept in a three-game series at Texas and were outscored 30-11. Baltimore placed Luke Scott on the disabled list Tuesday with a shoulder injury. Brian Roberts remains out with a concussion. Shortstop J.J. Hardy continues to swing a hot bat. His 13 homers are already five more than Orioles shortstops hit in the previous three seasons combined. He has 11 homers in his last 31 games.
FINAL PITCH: Boston manager Terry Francona said the team would be cautious with Carl Crawford and he is not expected to rejoin the team until after the All-Star break. Francona said Crawford would likely go out and play minor league rehab games after the All-Star break, and skip the Tampa Bay series July 15-17.