Boston Red Sox (57-36) @ Baltimore Orioles (38-54)
Tim Wakefield (5-3, 4.74) @ Brag Bergesen (1-6, 5.65)
7:05 PM EDT | Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore, MD)
TV: NESN RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
GAME NOTES
Tim Wakefield and Carl Crawford were both already in Baltimore long before last night’s game ended. They should be well-rested and have huge games. Ok, not necessarily, but that would be awesome. Personally, I think Crawford is going to have a big second half for the Red Sox. Nobody likes to go on the DL or likes to see players go on the DL but it gives Crawford a fresh start. Assuming his leg is completely healthy and he can use his speed to the utmost, he should be fresh for the grind of the second-half. The Red Sox missed him during his absence, mostly in the NL parks, but overall the offense continued to perform without him. He should be able to slot right into the 6th spot of the order to give the line-up some depth through the bottom. Hopefully, he will be the player we’ve been accustomed to seeing in Tampa over the last several years. If you have any thoughts on the expectations for Crawford as he comes off the DL, please share them in the comments.
INJURY REPORT
Boston: Clay Buchholz, lower back strain (Placed on 15-day DL June 19, retroactive to June 17); Carl Crawford, strained left hamstring (Placed on 15-day DL June 18, finished rehab, slated to come off DL today); Bobby Jenks, strained back (placed on 15-day DL 7/16), Jon Lester, strained left latissimus (placed on 15-day DL July 6); Jed Lowrie, right shoulder injury (Placed on 15-day DL on June 17)
Baltimore: Vladimir Guerrero, broken right hand (placed on 15-day DL 7/17); Brian Robert, concussion-like symptoms (placed on 15-day DL 5/19); Luke Scott, torn right labrum (placed on 15-day DL 7/5, expected to return 7/19)
PLAYER OF THE DAY
Today is the 47th birthday of former Red Sox outfielder Mike Greenwell. Greenwell played his entire 12-year major league career with the Red Sox, debuting in 1985 and making his final appearance in 1996. Greenwell’s best season was 1988 when he batted .325/.416/.531 with 22 HRs and 119 RBIs; he also finished 2nd in MVP voting that season. Greenwell had the difficult task as succeeding Jim Rice as the Red Sox left fielder and of course Rice followed Carl Yastrzemski and Yastrzemski followed Ted Williams, all three Hall-of-Famers. Although he never reached that level, Greenwell was a solid player in left field, appearing in 1269 over his career hitting .303/.368/.463.
Line-ups will be posted in the comments when they are available, feel free to add them if they aren’t there.