Red Sox Series Preview: R2 Vs. Athletics

Jun 2, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (11) pitches during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching Matchups @ Red Sox (Fenway Park)

June 5th @ 7:10 PM ET

• Scott Kazmir (2-3, 2.93 ERA) vs. Wade Miley (4-5, 4.97 ERA)
• Is this even going to be close? Kazmir is more of a trade target for the Red Sox than he is anything else, according to some baseball experts. He had to miss a start, recently, because of left shoulder tightness, but will be perfectly fine against Boston, today. The fact that Kazmir has lost his last three starts has nothing to do with him and everything to do with the Athletics’ inability to score runs, lately. Kazmir has only allowed five runs in his last three games.
• Will the real Wade Miley please stand up? After two games, where he allowed a combined three runs in 15 innings, earning two wins, Miley threw four innings where he allowed five runs on nine hits for a loss.

June 6th @ 4:05 PM ET

• Jesse Chavez (2-5, 2.11 ERA) vs. Joe Kelly (1-4, 5.83 ERA)
• Apparently, Chavez suffers from lack-of-run-supportitis, just like Kazmir. The righty from California has only allowed a combined three runs in his last three appearances, striking out 16 opposing bats and walking only three in 22 innings. Yet, Chavez picked up the loss twice, even in a game where he didn’t allow an earned run in eight innings, against the Detroit Tigers.
• The cure for the trending disease for the Athletics’ starting pitchers could be the feast that the Oakland hitters could have against Kelly. Sandwiched between a two-run game and a single-run performance was the game where Kelly allowed seven earned runs on eight hits in just 1.2 innings against the Twins.

June 7th @ 1:35 PM ET

• Kendall Graveman (3-2, 5.56 ERA) vs. Clay Buchholz (3-6, 3.82 ERA)
• Oakland’s righty from Alabama has pitched well for them, since being brought over from the Toronto Blue Jays’ minor system. In his last three appearances, he’s pitched the sixth inning each time, allowing a combined six runs, six walks, and 11 strikeouts.
• After a slow start, Buchholz has been on fire on the mound, although his win-loss record doesn’t reflect it. In his last three appearances, he’s combined for four runs, five walks, and 16 strikeouts in 22.2 innings of work. Buchholz was also the topic of conversation by some experts to be supported as a possible All-Star for the Red Sox. While that talk may be premature, at least he can have the critics get off of his back, finally.