The Boston Red Sox find themselves in quite a predicament after losing 3-of-4 to the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend. Now they’ll host the Baltimore Orioles for four games in three days beginning this afternoon with the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
Today’s first pitch for game one of the day/night doubleheader is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. The game will be carried on NESN if you live in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Orioles television market, you can watch the game on MASN. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.
The inconsistent Kyle Weiland will get the ball in today’s opener as he make his fifth start (sixth appearance) of 2011. In his previous five appearances (four starts), Weiland is 0-2 with a 7.58 ERA. Two of his four career starts have come against the Orioles. In those two starts, he is 0-1 with an 8.10 ERA (9 ER/10 IP). His only start at the Fens against the Orioles was his MLB debut back on July 10th. In that start, he allowed six runs in four innings of work before being ejected from the game.
Jeremy Guthrie looks to help the Orioles play spoiler in his 31st start (33rd appearance) of 2011. In his previous 32 appearances (30 starts), Guthrie is 8-17 with a 4.22 ERA. He’s made three appearances (two starts) against the Red Sox this season and is 1-1 with a 1.65 ERA (3 ER/16.1 IP). Overall in his career, he’s made 18 appearances (16 starts) against the Red Sox and is 2-8 with a 4.41 ERA. He hasn’t had much luck at the Fens in eight appearances (seven starts) as he is 0-4 with a 5.86 ERA.
Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the overnight and day if you’re on the home page.
Here are this afternoon’s lineups:
 62-89 |
 87-65 |
||
| 1. Matt Angle | CF | 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 2. J.J. Hardy | SS | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Nick Markakis | RF | 3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 4. Vladimir Guerrero | DH | 4. David Ortiz | DH |
| 5. Matt Wieters | C | 5. Josh Reddick | RF |
| 6. Chris Davis | 1B | 6. Marco Scutaro | SS |
| 7. Robert Andino | 2B | 7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia | C |
| 8. Nolan Reimold | LF | 8. Mike Aviles | 3B |
| 9. Josh Bell | 3B | 9. Darnell McDonald | RF |
| Jeremy Guthrie | SP | Kyle Weiland | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:
Notes: Carl Crawford was in the original lineup but was scratched with a stiff neck. He was replaced by McDonald.
Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.
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Tito, Theo deserve some blame for collapse [CSN New England]
Nation STATion: Good, bad and ugly of Sox slump [CSN New England]
Where is your Red Sox panic meter? [ESPN Boston]
Crucial doubleheader at Fenway today [ESPN Boston]
Pregame notes from Fenway [Extra Bases]
For Which Red Sox Player Is It Most Important to Get Hot Down the Stretch and Into Playoffs? [NESN.com]
Boston Red Sox Amass Over 3 Million Facebook Fans [NESN.com]
Orioles Manager Buck Showalter Likes Red Sox’ Chances to Survive, Make Postseason [NESN.com]
A Series Matter: Red Sox-Orioles and Dread [Projo Sox Blog]
If they can’t beat these guys . . . [Projo Sox Blog]
Weiland, Lackey start key twin bill vs. Orioles [RedSox.com]
A pennant race primer: What the Red Sox are up against [Rob Bradford – WEEI.com]
Thank goodness for the Orioles? [Tony Massarotti – Boston Globe]
Boston Kids Finally Feel Heartbreak [Wall Street Journal]
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Photo credits: Getty Images, Reuters Pictures
