Daisuke Matsuzaka has a 7.66 ERA in five career starts at Camden Yards.
The banged-up Boston Red Sox may finally be running out of steam as they conclude a three-game series at the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.
Boston (74-58) has starting position players Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and Jacoby Ellsbury all likely out for the year. Runs per game have dropped dramatically from the first half (5.47) to the second (4.07). The ‘under’ is 7-0-1 in its last eight games.
Boston has stayed in the playoff race with several close wins and the pitching of Clay Buchholz (15-5, 2.21 ERA) and Jon Lester (14-8, 3.12 ERA). However, things are starting to unravel after a 5-2 Tuesday loss at Baltimore.
The Red Sox have dropped three-straight and are seven games back in the wild card pending Wednesday night results.
Worse yet, they’ll get a visit from former teammate (and nemesis) Manny Ramirez on Friday. His new White Sox team is closer to making the playoffs (four games back in the AL Central) than Boston, despite having a worse record (72-60).
Baltimore (49-83) has the AL’s worst record, but is 17-10 since Buck Showalter took over as manager. It also has a four-game winning streak, allowing just three total runs.
Brad Bergesen (6-9, 5.55 ERA) is one of the Baltimore pitchers with a recent lights-out start. He allowed just one earned run (four hits) over eight innings at the L.A. Angels last Friday. The Orioles swept that series and went 6-0 against the Angels in August.
The 24-year-old righthander has a low strikeout rate (4.18), but he’s finally started to pitch better in August (3-0, 2.72 ERA). Baltimore has won his last five starts after going 1-12 in his previous 13.
Bergesen is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA in two starts versus Boston this year. He pitched very respectably in two starts last year (2.57 ERA). However, Baltimore is 2-12 in his 14 lifetime starts against the AL East.
Daisuke Matsuzaka (8-4, 4.19 ERA) will be the opposing pitcher. He was scratched from his last start due to a back issue, but he appears fine for this game.
The 29-year-old righty from Japan last started on August 21 versus Toronto. He surrendered four runs over eight innings. His ERA is almost identical home (4.18) and away (4.21).
Matsuzaka has one start against Baltimore this year. He allowed six earned runs over 4 2/3 innings. That was his first start after starting the season on the DL (neck strain). He’s 3-2 with a 5.65 ERA lifetime against the Orioles, 2-2 with a 7.30 ERA at Camden Yards.
The Red Sox are just 2-5 at Baltimore this year. That’s surprising as they’re 69-32 in their last 101 games at Camden Yards. They get tremendous fan support from Boston transplants.
Baltimore second baseman Julio Lugo (former Red Sox player) is questionable with a head injury. He has really struggled since the All-Star break (.513 OPS).
Ron Kulpa will call balls and strikes. The road team is 5-1 in his last six games behind the plate. The ‘under’ is 6-1 in his last seven games behind the dish.
First pitch on Thursday night is 4:10 p.m. (PT). Weather should be clear and in the 80s. Baltimore hosts Tampa Bay this weekend, while Boston is welcoming Manny and the White Sox.