Pitching Matchups: Sox Pitchers Look To Pick Up Where Wright, Miley Left Off
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Red Sox are riding the wave of two straight wins over the weekend, and fortunately for them, they don't have to wait too long to try to keep that momentum going.
The Sox visit the Twins for a three-game set, with first pitch in game 1 set for just after 2 p.m. on Memorial Day.
Boston got solid starts from Steven Wright (6.1 IP, 2 ER) and Wade Miley (8 IP, 1 ER) over the past two days, and now it's on the three remaining starters to maintain that performance.
Monday, May 25, 2:10 p.m.
Joe Kelly (1-3, 5.13 ERA) vs. Ricky Nolasco (4-1, 6.00 ERA)
Fresh off two solid starts against the Rangers and Mariners, in which he allowed 3 earned runs in 13.1 combined innings, Kelly enters Monday's game likely feeling as confident about his stuff since the season began. He struck out seven and walked just one batter the last time out, an indication that perhaps new pitching coach Carl Willis has keyed in on whatever caused Kelly's bouts of wildness.
Nolasco has picked up W's in four straight starts, though he's allowed 10 earned runs over 21 innings in that time.
Key Matchup: Pablo Sandoval vs. Ricky Nolasco
Sandoval missed time last week after taking a pitch off the knee, but he pinch hit on Sunday, picking up an RBI single, and he should be champing at the bit to face Nolasco. Sandoval has stepped in against the right-hander 23, times, and he's gone 10-for-21 with three homers, four doubles and two walks.
David Ortiz also has hit three home runs off Nolasco in 10 at-bats.
Tuesday, May 26, 8:10 p.m.
Clay Buchholz (2-5, 4.58 ERA) vs. Mike Pelfrey (3-1, 3.00 ERA)
Buchholz's month of May has shown a marked improvement over April. This month in four starts, Buchholz has averaged seven innings per start, striking out 25 batters while walking just seven and posting a 3.54 ERA.
On the other side, Pelfrey has been impressively consistent this season for the Twins, failing to pitch five full innings just once and never giving up more than four runs.
Key Matchup: Joe Mauer vs. Clay Buchholz
Buchholz is going to have to be extra careful when facing Mauer, a hitter who's owned the pitcher in the past. Mauer is 7-for-16 (.438) with three doubles and three walks against Buchholz, good enough for a .526 OBP and 1.151 OPS.
Wednesday, May 27, 1:10 p.m.
Rick Porcello (4-3, 5.07 ERA) vs. Phil Hughes (3-4, 4.50 ERA)
Porcello is coming off his worst outing of the year, when he got shelled for seven runs -- all earned -- over 4.1 innings against the Angels. In his four starts prior to Friday night's outing, Porcello had allowed just six combined runs over 25.2 innings.
Hughes has been fairly consistent, averaging 6.1 innings per start while allowing five runs just once all year.
Key Matchup: Dustin Pedroia & David Ortiz vs. Hughes
It's going to be tough for Hughes to get through these two, as he's struggled in his career to get them out. Pedroia is 11-for-35 (.314) against Hughes, belting three homers, hitting hree doubles, drawing two walks and driving in 10 runs. Ortiz is 10-for-29 (.345) with two homers, three doubles and four walks against Hughes.