Red Sox at Indians
If the Boston Red Sox miss the playoffs for the third straight season,
most fingers will point toward the starting rotation - especially
co-aces Jon Lester and Josh Beckett - as the biggest reason. Lester will
try to win for the first time since June 27 when the Red Sox attempt to
salvage a split of their four-game series in Cleveland against the
Indians on Sunday. Lester and Beckett entered 2012 with a combined
record of 201-115 (.636), but are 10-19 with a 5.18 ERA this season. The
Red Sox are 15-27 in their starts, but the others in the rotation -
except Clay Buchholz - haven't been very good either lately. Red Sox
starters are 4-11 in their last 22 games and Boston is 8-14 during that
stretch.
The Red Sox began life without rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks on
Saturday. Middlebrooks fractured his right wrist after he was hit by a
pitch in the ninth inning on Friday and is likely lost for the season.
Boston is already without designated hitter David Ortiz, who experienced
soreness in his heel after recent running and agility drills. It was
hoped he would rejoin the lineup Sunday, but his return has been pushed
back. Cleveland rookie Corey Kluber will make his third career start.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (5-10, 5.36 ERA) vs. Indians RH Corey Kluber (0-0, 6.10)
Lester was 76-34 entering 2012 and has already reached a career high for
losses in a season. He has allowed four or more runs in five of his
last six starts including his last outing, when he yielded four runs and
six hits in 6 2/3 innings in Boston's 6-3 loss to Texas on Tuesday.
Lester is 4-1 with a 3.53 in 10 starts against Cleveland. The Indians'
roster is hitting .244 against Lester, with Asdrubal Cabrera and
Shin-Soo Choo a combined 3-for-22.
Kluber made his season debut Aug. 2 at Kansas City and was torched for
six runs and nine hits (two homers) in 4 1/3 innings in Cleveland's 7-6
loss. He bounced back with a much better performance, though, when he
yielded three runs (one earned) and six hits and six innings in the
Indians' 7-5 setback to Minnesota on Tuesday. Kluber was 11-7 with a
3.59 ERA and 128 strikeouts 125 1/3 innings in 21 starts with Triple-A
Columbus before being recalled.
WALK-OFFS
1. Boston called up Danny Valencia from Triple-A Pawtucket to take
Middlebrooks' spot on the roster. The Red Sox acquired Valencia from the
Minnesota Twins on Sunday for minor league OF Jeremias Pineda.
2. OF Brent Lillibridge, who came to Boston in the Kevin Youkilis trade
on June 24 and was dealt to Cleveland on July 24, went 3-for-4 with a
homer, two RBIs and two runs scored in the Indians' 5-2 victory on
Saturday, their third victory in 15 games.
3. Eight of Cody Ross' 18 homers have tied the game or put Boston
ahead. Only two have come with the Red Sox leading or trailing by more
than three runs.