Cleveland Indians (54-54) @ Boston Red Sox (68-41)
Justin Masterson (8-7, 2.56) @ Erik Bedard (4-7, 3.45)
7:10 PM EDT | Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
TV: NESN RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
GAME NOTES
Oft-injured may be an understatement. Erik Bedard seems to be injured as often as he is left handed, which is, well, all the time. Yet with a rotation including a 45 year old man and an unproven lefty currently sporting a 1.88 WHIP, Theo Epstein really had no choice but to take the plunge with Bedard. If he’s healthy, the Red Sox acquired a solid pitcher, who may just end up being their third starter in a playoff series. If he’s not healthy? Well, just be glad that Epstein swindled Dodgers GM Ned Colletti into sacrificing prospect Trayvon Robinson to the Mariners, because it enabled the Sox to acquire Bedard without giving up any elite prospects. Bedard came off the disabled list last Friday to make his first start in over a month. He gave up five runs in an inning and a third against Tampa Bay. Many speculated that the Mariners rushed him back to the majors, bypassing minor league rehab starts, just so he could pitch in what was essentially a showcase for potential trade suitors. He comes into tonight’s game with a 4-7 record and a solid 3.45 ERA. He’ll face old friend and all around beloved person, Justin Masterson. Traded at the deadline two years ago for Victor Martinez, Masterson is having a breakout season. Although the torrid pace he was displaying at the beginning of the year has cooled off a bit, Masterson takes the mound tonight with a 8-7 record and a 2.56 ERA. He comes off a gem against Kansas City in which he pitched eight innings of two run ball, while striking out five. The Indians are finally back down to .500, and the Sox look to put the finishing touches on what has been an exciting series tonight.
Lineups
Boston
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Kevin Youkilis, 3B
- David Ortiz, DH
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Josh Reddick, RF
- Jason Varitek, C
- Marco Scutaro, SS
Cleveland
- Ezequiel Carrera, CF
- Jason Kipnis, 2B
- Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
- Travis Hafner, DH
- Carlos Santana, C
- Kosuke Fukudome, RF
- Matt LaPorta, 1B
- Austin Kearns, LF
- Jason Donald, 3B
INJURY REPORT
Boston: Clay Buchholz, lower back strain (placed on 15-day DL June 19, retroactive to June 17); J.D. Drew, left shoulder impingement (placed on 15-day DL July 26); Bobby Jenks, strained back (placed on 15-day DL July 16); Jed Lowrie, right shoulder injury (placed on 15-day DL June 17, scheduled to start rehab assignment August 1)
Cleveland: Shin-Soo Choo, fractured left thumb (placed on 15-day DL June 27th); Michael Brantley, wrist soreness (day-to-day)
Stats
-In three previous starts against the Sox, Masterson is 2-0 with a 1.25 ERA.
-Josh Reddick has 2 walks in his last 51 at bats.
-Bedard has only pitched for one team that finished the season with a record over .500
-Masterson leads Indian pitchers in WAR with a 4.1 mark. The next closest is Josh Tomlin with 1.5.
-The Indians have not been under .500 since April 3rd.
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Enjoy the game everyone. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section, we’d love to hear from you.