Red Sox Series Preview: Round 2 Vs. Yankees at Fenway

Apr 27, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher

(56) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching Matchups @ Fenway Park:

May 1, 7:10 PM ET

• C.C. Sabathia (0-4, 5.96 ERA) vs. Justin Masterson (2-0, 5.16 ERA)
• If it wasn’t for the Red Sox run support, Masterson could easily be in the same position as Sabathia. In four starts, Masterson has hit 4 opposing batsmen, allowed 13 runs, including a home run, and 9 walks. He does, also, have 20 strikeouts in 22.2 innings. Masterson has also only reached the end of seven innings once in those starts.
• Sabathia has reached the end of seven and eight innings in two of his four starts. However, he has been knocked around much more than Masterson. Allowing 31 hits, 17 earned runs, 4 home runs, and 4 walks, Sabathia has had a rough start to the year. At least he’s only hit one batter.

May 2, 1:35 PM ET

• Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 4.15 ERA) vs. Wade Miley (1-2, 8.62 ERA)
• These starters must feel like anything could happen in their next starts. Eovaldi has only lasted seven innings once in his four starts, while Miley has two starts that lasted a third into the third inning. For two men brought in to stabilize their respective rotations and eat up innings, that hasn’t happened much, lately.
• After blanking the Tampa Bay Rays in six innings, Miley gave up six runs and two walks in only a little more than two innings against the Baltimore Orioles. Eovaldi gave up four runs in just over four innings against the New York Mets. The matchup could be low-scoring, but don’t expect it to happen.

May 3, 8:05 PM ET

• Adam Warren (1-1, 4.35 ERA) vs. Joe Kelly (1-0, 4.94 ERA)
• After starting hot off of the disabled list, Kelly has given up five runs in each of his last two starts. However, he also earned a combined 17 strikeouts in those starts, as well, which was much higher than his first two starts. It could be a sign that he’s trying to do too much to help the team win, trying to strike everyone out, instead of opting for the ball in play for outs. We shall see.
• Warren’s only loss is against the Red Sox; however, before we start to crow our way to victory, it should be noted that he only gave up a run for his 5.1 innings of work. It wasn’t that he played badly; he just needed more run support. His last outing against the Rays had the same result: 5 hits, 1 earned run, in 5.2 innings. Kelly will need his A-game to battle Warren for the win.