Sox Battle It Out
The Boston Red Sox have received a boost from their starting pitching this month. The same can’t be said for the Chicago White Sox, who lost one of their starters for the season along with their AL Central lead after their last loss.
The teams continue their four-game series at U.S. Cellular Field on Sunday after splitting the first two meetings.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Chicago -130 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 10 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 52% of bets for this game have been placed on Chicago -130 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Boston (67-50) won for the sixth time in eight games Saturday, beating the White Sox (64-51) 6-2. Daisuke Matsuzaka allowed one run and four hits over a season-high eight innings while David Ortiz – who had three hits in his previous 28 at-bats – had three hits, including a bases-clearing double in the seventh to open up a 5-1 lead.
Boston starters improved to 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA in August with Saturday’s win. They were 3-8 with a 5.23 ERA in the first 12 games after the All-Star break for the Red Sox, who have a two-game lead over Chicago in the AL wild card race.
While Boston starters have been efficient, the White Sox’s struggling rotation took another hit Saturday when Jose Contreras, who had been activated off the 15-day DL before the game, lasted only 1 2-3 innings before rupturing his Achilles’ tendon while covering first base on a grounder.
The injury will keep the 36-year-old right-hander sidelined for the remainder of the season.
White Sox starters are 7-9 with a 5.54 ERA since the All-Star break. Chicago is now a half-game behind the Minnesota Twins for first place in the AL Central.
"We don’t deserve first place the way we’re playing," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We’ll continue to fight and it’s going to be interesting. Now we’ve got to look up, there’s one team in front of us."
Contreras’ injury Saturday taxed the White Sox’s already extended bullpen, which pitched 10 innings in a 14-inning win over Detroit on Tuesday. Losing pitcher Boone Logan allowed four runs and four hits without recording an out during the seventh inning Saturday, and was told he would be demoted before Sunday’s game.
"This a pennant race," Guillen said. "I want men on the field.
"I keep telling (general manager Kenny Williams) we got what we need," Guillen continued. "But some people make me look bad, some people make me look disappointed, some people make me think about what we have. Some players should look themselves in the mirror and be embarrassed, and they should be better, that’s all I can say."
Guillen turns to Gavin Floyd (11-6, 3.66 ERA) on Sunday, hoping he can provide some innings. Floyd allowed five runs and eight hits in four-plus innings on Tuesday against Detroit in the 10-8, 14-inning win.
Floyd made one relief appearance against the Red Sox last season, allowing four runs and four hits over 3 2-3 innings in a 10-1 loss on Aug. 24. He has never started against them.
Clay Buchholz (2-7, 5.94) counters for Boston, trying to snap out of his recent slump.
Buchholz has lost his last two starts and his last five decisions. He pitched six innings Monday against Kansas City, allowing four runs and seven hits in a 4-3 loss.
The right-hander’s last win was May 2 against Tampa Bay.
"I feel like I might start pressing a little bit and try to make a pitch better than I need to," Buchholz told the Red Sox’s official Web site. "I’m just not catching any breaks at all."
Buchholz has never faced the White Sox.
Did you like this article? Subscribe to our Baseball news feed for the fastest updates delivered right to you – Click here to Subscribe
