Red Sox-Rays Pitching Matchups: Boston Looks To Right Ship After Rough Weekend
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Red Sox welcome the Tampa Bay Rays to Fenway for a three-game set starting Monday, looking to bounce back after a rough weekend.
Boston is under .500 for the first time this season following a three-game sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees, and have dropped eight of their last 12. Two of those losses came in St. Petersburg two weeks ago, when the Rays took two of three from the Sox.
While this upcoming series features a Jake Odorizzi-Clay Buchholz rematch to kick things off, Boston will see a pair of Tampa pitchers for the first time this year to close the series out. This is a big series for Boston starters, who have to take advantage of three games against a light-hitting lineup. The Rays are hitting .230 on the season with just 91 runs scored, both of which rank 25th in the majors.
Here's a look at the pitching matchups for the upcoming series:
Monday, May 4 -- 7:10pm
Jake Odorizzi (2-2, 2.41 ERA) vs. Clay Buchholz (1-3, 5.76 ERA)
Odorizzi was solid against Boston two weeks ago, allowing just one run off three hits over 6.2 innings in a 2-1 Rays win (he got a no decision for his efforts). The 25-year-old set the Sox down in order three times in that outing, and lowered his ERA to 1.65 on the season. He was hit a little harder by the Yankees in his last time out, allowing four runs off nine hits in a 4-2 loss.
Buchholz was also solid in his outing against the Rays, allowing just one run off two hits while striking out 10 in six innings. He too got a no decision in that start.
Things didn't go very well in his last outing though, with Buchholz allowing four earned runs in just 2.2 innings against the Blue Jays, getting an early hook from manager John Farrell. It was the second time this season Buchholz has failed to reach the fifth inning.
Key Matchup: David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia vs. Ororizzi
Boston's two and three hitter are a combined 3-for-23 against the Rays starter with three strikeouts.
Tuesday, May 5 -- 7:10pm
Drew Smyly (0-0, 3.38) vs. Rick Porcello (2-2, 5.34)
Since the Sox and Rays last met, the 25-year-old Smyly has been inserted into the starting rotation. He struck out 10 Yankees his last time out in a 3-2 win (he got a no decision), allowing two runs -- both off solo homers -- on four hits. He's pitched against the Red Sox five times in his three-year career, making three starts, and has a 2-0 record with a 2.82 ERA. However, things haven't gone well for Smyly in Boston, with a 6.09 career ERA at Fenway Park.
Porcello is coming off his best outing of the season, holding the Blue Jays to one run in seven innings while striking out six in a 4-1 win last Wednesday, picking up his second win of the season.
Key Matchup: Ortiz vs. Smyly
The Sox DH is 4-for-7 against Smyly with a homer and two RBI.
Wednesday, May 6, 7:10pm
Alex Colome (1-0, 0.00) vs. Justin Masterson (2-0, 4.71)
Colome will make just his eighth career start Wednesday against Boston, and second of the season, coming in with a 4-1 record and 2.22 ERA over his young career. He held the Orioles to three hits over five scoreless innings in his 2015 debut last Friday, a 2-0 Tampa win.
Masterson hasn't been terrible for Boston his last few outings, allowing six earned runs in his last 18 innings pitched. In that three-game span, he's seen his ERA go from 7.59 to 4.71, but Boston is just 1-2 over that stretch.
Masterson's career numbers against Tampa are a bit scary too: He's just 2-7 with a 6.83 ERA in 14 games (10 starts), which is his highest ERA against opponents he's made multiple starts against.
Key Matchup: Asdrubal Cabrera vs. Masterson
Cabrera is hitting just .194 on the season but has good numbers in his small sample against Masterson. The Rays shortstop is 3-for-5 with a triple and an RBI against the Sox righty.
Dan Roche discusses Boston's issues on Toucher & Rich:
