The race for the AL East is all but over, but the race for the Wild Card is just starting. The Sox are currently a game up on Texas for the Wild Card as they enter this series with the White Sox. Boston has Clay Buchholz on the hill tonight, who has to be pleased to see a non-ace on the hill against him. His previous three starts were against Veralander, CC, and Halladay. Tonight he goes the heavily inconsistent Jose A. Contreras.
Contreras has had no luck against the Sox in his career with a 3-5 record and an ERA of 8.82 (ouch!). He has been a tough guy to figure out this season. Last time out he was lights out against Kansas City letting up only 1 run over 7 innings, but in his two preview starts he let up a total of 10 runs over 9 innings.
Buchholz has been nothing sort of fantastic lately. Over his last 3 games he has pitched 19 innings allowing only 4 runs. This key with his is his control. If he doesn't go crazy with walks he usually has success. With the way he has been playing you have to think of Clay as Boston's 3rd starter behind Lester and Beckett.
The White Sox have only won 4 games out of the last 13 games at Fenway Park, so hopefully his series can get Boston back on track, and really take control of the race for the Wild Card.
***UPDATE***
Ortiz and Drew are back in the lineup, while Tek is back on the bench. Here is a look at the rest of the lineup...
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Victor Martinez, C
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. David Ortiz, DH
6. Jason Bay, LF
7. Mike Lowell, 3B
8. J.D. Drew, RF
9. Alex Gonzalez, SS
Game starts at 7:10pm on NESN.
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