Red Sox vs. Tigers Preview
DETROIT, MI (AP) – Clay Buchholz and Josh Beckett are both undefeated for the Boston Red Sox this month, including a pair of strong outings against the Detroit Tigers.
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The starters will try to stay perfect in May and help the surging Red Sox complete a four-game sweep of the Tigers in a day-night doubleheader Sunday at Comerica Park.
Though Buchholz (4-3, 3.30 ERA) has not factored in the decision of his last two starts, he is 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA in five outings this month. He’s gone at least seven innings in each of his last three outings, including 7 1-3 innings Monday when he allowed two runs and four hits in a 3-2 loss at Cleveland.
According to MLB odds and oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Red Sox -115 money line favorites for Saturday’s game against the Tigers -105. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 65% of more than 209 bets for this game have been placed on the Tigers -105.
Buchholz was pulled after 94 pitches, 33 fewer than he threw over seven innings in his previous start against Detroit on May 18.
“We’ve got to take care of him,” manager Terry Francona told the Red Sox’s official website. “I think he’s smart enough to know that.”
Buchholz allowed four hits and matched a season high with seven strikeouts but didn’t get a decision in Boston’s 1-0 home victory over the Tigers last week. He’s allowed three earned runs and 14 hits over 28 1-3 innings to go 1-1 in his last four starts versus Detroit (25-25), losers in seven of 10.
The victory came at Comerica Park on May 14, 2010, when he surrendered one run and three hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 7-2 win.
Having won six in a row over the Tigers overall, Boston (29-22) will get its first look at left-hander Andy Oliver, who will make his 2011 debut in place of the injured Phil Coke.
Oliver, who went 0-4 with a 7.36 ERA in five starts for the Tigers last summer, was 4-3 with a 3.31 ERA for Triple-A Toledo.
“Oliver’s obviously a top prospect,” manager Jim Leyland told the Tigers’ official website. “Is he ready? I can’t answer that. This is one of those deals where if Coke hadn’t been injured, we wouldn’t be talking about this right now.”
Beckett (4-1, 1.69), who will start the nightcap, has earned wins in two of his last three outings but couldn’t get one against the Tigers on May 19 despite pitching better than Justin Verlander (4-3, 3.42).
Beckett allowed one run over six innings in that game at Fenway Park, while Verlander yielded three over eight frames. The Tigers ace will face Beckett again Sunday night but is coming off his worst start in more than a year, allowing six runs and nine hits in six innings Tuesday but not getting a decision as Detroit rallied to beat Tampa Bay 7-6.
Verlander was 2-0 with a 1.44 ERA in his previous three starts, including his second career no-hitter May 7 in Toronto.
Beckett is 2-0 with a major league-best 0.60 ERA in five outings this month. He gave up one run and five hits over 6 2-3 innings of a 4-2 victory at Cleveland on Tuesday.
“I think he’s been so consistent,” Francona said. “I think he feels good about himself. He should.”
Adrian Gonzalez will try to lead his team to its 13th win in 15 games and extending his hit streak to nine. The Red Sox first baseman is batting .447 with seven RBIs during his eight-game run. Also hot is Jacoby Ellsbury, who has homered in consecutive games and is 6 for 12 with five RBIs in his last three.
Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta is batting .353 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs in 20 games this month.
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