Kansas City @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 27, 2011 ) Kansas City 5, Boston 12
THE STORY: The Boston Red Sox seem unconcerned about the fast-approaching trade deadline and with good reason. Boston, which showed little interest in acquiring Carlos Beltran from the Mets, belted three home runs on Wednesday night en route to a 12-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals. The Red Sox have won 11 of their last 12 games at home, and host Kansas City in the finale of a four-game series Thursday afternoon. The Red Sox will start Josh Beckett opposite the Royals’ Luke Hochevar.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Luke Hochevar (6-8, 5.29 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Josh Beckett (9-3, 2.07).
This could be a long day for Hochevar given the way he has pitched against Boston. He is 1-3 with a 7.94 ERA in four career starts against the Red Sox. Hochevar has won his last two decisions but was fortunate the Royals didn’t take a loss in a couple recent outings when he allowed 11 runs and 14 hits in a combined eight innings. Hochevar has surrendered 18 homers this season. Despite his relatively low win total (nine), Beckett has to be a major player in the Cy Young Award picture. He has won five of his last six decisions and is second in the American League in ERA. Beckett has dominated Kansas City in his career, going 6-0 with a 2.26 ERA. This season, he has allowed only nine runs in his eight starts at home and one run in his last 15 innings overall.
ABOUT THE RED SOX (64-38): David Ortiz hit a grand slam Wednesday and became the sixth player in history to drive in 1,000 runs with the Red Sox. The others were Carl Yastrzemski (1,844), Ted Williams (1,839), Jim Rice (1,451), Dwight Evans (1,346) and Bobby Doerr (1,247). Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia hit back-to-back homers in the first Wednesday. Ellsbury has 17 homers and has hit in nine straight games, and Pedroia has hit safely in 24 straight games, batting nearly .400 in his torrid stretch. He has reached base safely in 35 straight games.
ABOUT THE ROYALS (43-61): Even though the Royals won the first game of the four-game series, the teams appear to be mismatched. Kansas City raced out to a 3-0 lead Wednesday night, but Boston had cut the deficit to 3-2 before it recorded an out. The Red Sox have rested players the past two nights, but still put up 25 runs on 32 hits. Kansas City has lost three of its last four games but continues to get solid offense from Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler, who homered Wednesday. Kansas City is 9-24 in its last 33 games in Boston.
FINAL PITCH: The stars of the Boston bullpen should be rested as they haven’t pitched since Monday. Matt Albers has a scoreless streak of 12 1/3 innings and Daniel Bard's scoreless streak is at 25 innings over 24 outings. Boston starter Clay Buchholz is expected to see another specialist as the team is still concerned about his back.