Red Sox Road Ahead: Week 9

(Patrick previews the week ahead for the Red Sox each and every week. Start your week off right and read everything you need to know for the games ahead.)

Note: Stats are accurate prior to Sunday’s games. Game times are EST and pitching match-ups are subject to change.

Rapid Recap

Boston Red Sox
28-23
4th in AL East (6.5 GB)

The Sox surprised my expectations by sweeping the Rays and then losing two to the Royals. I guess there is parity in baseball. Coming into Sunday they are currently 4-2 for the week and that’s more than I can ask for.

The gap is closing for the Sox and if they can keep it up, they can climb their way into 3rd place and into the early Wild Card race.

At bat…

Beltre is on fire at the hot corner. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Last week I talked about David Ortiz, but now it’s time to look at Adrian Beltre. While Ortiz has been the hottest hitter in baseball, we can’t ignore what the third baseman has done in the past two weeks: .423 BA/3 HR/ 14 RBI.

The career .273 hitter is currently batting .342- no way he continues to hit at that level. It is disappointing that Beltre is maintaining his low walk rate from last year (4.6%) but the bright spot in his performance is that he’s making better contact with the ball. He is currently making contact with the ball 82% of the time (vs. 76% last year) and is hitting more line drives.

An unusually high BABIP says he will come down to earth eventually but I say he’ll return to double digit HRs with the upside of a .280-.290 average the rest of the way.

On The Mound…

Congrats Bill Hall- you get my position player pitching performance seal of approval. According to Ian Browne, “Hall, whose fastball topped out at 89 mph, threw 11 pitches, seven of them for strikes. He induced three straight groundouts.”

A competitor for the closer’s role? Probably not but it was fun to watch him pitch.

Also is it just me or have we thrown a lot of position players onto the mound? Of course with Beckett on the DL and the likes of Dice-K in the rotation we can take all the help we can get.

Schedule and Opponents

Red Sox games are available over the radio on the WEEI Red Sox Radio Network and on NESN in the New England TV market (unless noted.)

Tuesday, June 1 vs Athletics 7:10 PM

Wednesday, June 2 vs Athletics 7:10 PM

Thursday, June 3 vs Athletics 1:35 PM

Friday, June 4 @ Orioles 7:05 PM

Saturday, June 5 @ Orioles 7:05 PM

Sunday, June 6 @ Orioles 1:35 PM

Oakland TV: CSNCA

Baltimore TV: MASN-HD

Pitching Match-Ups

Tuesday, June 1

Athletics: Gio Gonzalez, LHP (5-3, 3.54)

Last start: 5/27 @BAL: 6.1 IP/6 H/3 R/6 K/3 BB (ND)

The young lefty in the rotation appears to be improving with a 3.54 ERA compared with a 5.75 last season. However, a closer look shows that he’s giving up less walks (and strikeouts) by allowing more hitters to make contact with the ball and trusting his defense with his high groundball rate.

He lacks a fourth pitch but has increased the velocity to his fastball (92 mph.) The question will be if the his new approach and defense will be able to hold back the Sox.

Red Sox: John Lackey, RHP (5-3, 4.84)

Last start: 5/26 @TB: 6.1 IP/8 H/2 R/1 K/ 4 BB (W)

Even though Lackey got the win last time around to end a two game skid he still has a problem with control- he has given 13 free passes in his last three starts.

Wednesday, June 2

Athletics: Ben Sheets, RHP (2-3, 4.91)

Last start: 5/28 @DET: 7.0 IP/5 H/3 R/6 K/1 BB (ND)

The former Brewers’ ace is proving that he still has something left in the tank after an injury riddled career. His control isn’t what it used to be but he’s managing to avoid line drives with a low 17.6% line drive rate. He has been throwing his slider more compared to previous years but it’s not been a very effective pitch- keep an eye out for that.

Red Sox: Daisuke Matsuzaka, RHP (3-2, 5.77)

Last start: 5/27 vs KC: 4.2 IP/2 H/3 R/1 K/8 BB (L)

Wow. How could a guy almost pitch a no-hitter one week and comeback to walk eight batters the next? I need to get off the Dice-K roller coaster quick because I’m feeling sick.

Thursday, June 3

Athletics: Brett Anderson, LHP (1-1, 2.35)

Last start: 5/29 @DET: 5.2 IP/3 H/0 R/4 K/0 BB (W)

Brett Anderson represents the young arms of the As this week. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Coming back from injury, Anderson hasn’t allowed a run in three of his five starts. He came into the season with a lot of promise after posting ok numbers his rookie season. What you’ll see here is a guy who doesn’t walk a lot of batters and gets batters to ground out half the time they hit the ball.

Red Sox: Tim Wakefield, RHP (1-3, 5.68)

Last start: 5/28 vs KC: 3.2 IP/12 H/9 R/1 K/3 BB (L)

The knuckleball simply doesn’t go his way sometimes. He is currently sporting a career high 86% contact rate.

Friday, June 4

Orioles: Chris Tillman, RHP (0-0, 3.18)

Last start: 5/29 @TOR: 5.2 IP/6 H/2 R/3 K/2 BB (ND)

The Orioles pitching prospect will making his second start of the season against the Sox next weekend. In the minors he’s shown great control and a strong dominance over the plate. In his limited time in the majors he has shown to be a fly ball pitcher and is still working to get his velocity up in the majors.

Red Sox: Clay Buchholz, RHP (6-3, 3.07)

Last start: 5/29 vs. KC: 7 IP/4 H/0 R/4 K/4 BB (W)

This past weekend he out dueled Zack Greinke and so far has stepped up to be the number two arm behind Lester in the rotation as the veteran arms continue to struggle.

Saturday, June 5

Orioles: Jeremy Guthrie, RHP (3-4, 3.65)

Last start: 5/25 vs OAK: 6 IP/6 H/1 R/2 K/3 BB (W)

Not normally known as a dominating arm, he’s quietly put together a string of strong starts by allowing only one run in each of his last three starts. A spike in groundballs has helped him with his cause.

Red Sox: Jon Lester, LHP (5-2, 3.15)

Last start: 5/25 @TB: 6 IP/1 H/0 R/9 K/5 BB (W)

After one-hitting the Rays, Lester continues his campaign to win the AL Cy Young.

Sunday, June 6

Orioles: Brian Matusz, LHP (2-5, 5.76)

Luuuuuuke has earned the cheers of the fans in Baltimore. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Last start:  5/26 vs. OAK: 5 IP/8 H/6 R/4 K/1 BB (L)

Another young arm for the O’s, this lefty is still struggling with control but has also experienced a bit of bad luck.

Red Sox: John Lackey, RHP (5-3, 4.84)

Opponents In-Depth

Oakland Athletics
27-23
1st in AL West

Probable Line-Up

Rajai Davis, CF
Daric Barton, 1B
Ryan Sweeney, RF
Kurt Suzuki, C
Jack Cust, DH
Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B
Gabe Gross, LF
Mark Ellis, 2B
Cliff Pennington, SS

Last Week/Upcoming

Won two out of three in Baltimore, currently have two wins  in four games in Detroit.

Injuries

Dallas Braden, SP (Ankle) Probable for May 30 start at Detroit

Travis Buck, RF (Oblique) 15-day DL. Out until at least mid-June

Eric Chavez, 3B (Neck) 15-day DL. Might be out for the season

Joey Devine, RP (Elbow) 60-day DL. Out until at least late June

Justin Duchscherer, SP (Hip) 15-day DL. Might be out for the season

Coco Crisp, CF (Ribs) 15-day DL. Out until at least mid-June

Josh Outman, RP (Elbow) 60-day DL. Out until at least late July

Jon Meloan, RP (Elbow) 60-day DL. Out for the season

Who’s Hot

Ryan Sweeney: .370 BA last two weeks

Who’s Not

Cliff Pennington: .122/12 K last two weeks

Baltimore Orioles
15-35
5th in AL East (19 GB)

Probable Line-Up

Corey Patterson, LF
Ty Wigginton, 1B
Nick Markakis, RF
Miguel Tejada, 3B
Luke Scott, DH
Matt Wieters, C
Adam Jones, CF
Julio Lugo, 2B
Cesar Izturis, SS

Last Week/Upcoming

Won one out of three against Oakland, currently losing three out of four in Toronto, will play three against New York Yankees on the road before playing the Sox.

Injuries

Brian Roberts, 2B (Back) 60-day DL. Out until at least mid-June

Mike Gonzalez, RP (Shoulder) 60-day DL. Out until at least mid-June

Jim R. Johnson, RP (Elbow) 15-day DL. Out until at least late July

Alfredo Simon, SP (Hamstring) 15-day DL. Out until at least mid-June

Koji Uehara, RP (Forearm) 15-day DL. Out until at least mid-June

Felix Pie, LF (Shoulder) 60-day DL. Out until at least late July

Who’s Hot

Luke Scott: .389 BA/3 HR last two weeks

Who’s Not

Corey Patterson: .213 BA/16 K last two weeks

My Outlook

Nothing like a Baltimore beating to boost the Sox, and the As don’t look that dangerous. I’ll go with a daring 4-2 week but I can see Sheets or Anderson making it a 1-2 run in Oakland.

How do you think the Sox are going to fare this week? Leave them in the comments or let Patrick know on Twitter: @DMBosstone