Red Sox-Orioles Pitching Matchups: Will Familiarity Breed Offense?
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox just finished up a four-game series four days ago, but what the heck, why not let them right back at it this weekend?
Unfortunately for those of us who love entertainment, Ubaldo Jimenez will not be facing the Red Sox this time around, so we won't get to see the follow-up act to Friday night's drama.
Yet while familiarity won't breed contempt this weekend, perhaps it will generate some hits. Four of the six starters this weekend faced the same opponent last weekend, and with no real dominant pitcher in that group, it'll be interesting to see each team's approach at the plate.
Here's how the pitching matchups shake out for this AL East series.
Friday, April 24, 7:05 p.m.
Rick Porcello (1-2, 6.63 ERA) vs. Miguel Gonzalez (2-1, 2.55 ERA)
Rick Porcello started against the Orioles last Sunday.
It did not go well.
Porcello was rocked for eight earned runs on 12 hits and three walks, nearly doubling his early-season ERA in the process. So it'll be quite the important start for him Friday night in Baltimore.
Gonzalez, meanwhile, pitched rather averagely that day, allowing three runs over five innings. But he picked up the W thanks to the offensive outburst against Porcello. Those three runs allowed represented the most Gonzalez has let up in a start this year.
KEY MATCHUP: Chris Davis vs. Rick Porcello
Davis didn't do much damage against Porcello last weekend, going 1-for-3 with a double, strikeout and groundout. But in 21 career at-bats against the righty, Davis has belted three homers. Those, combined with his double and two singles, give him a 1.048 OPS against Porcello. He has struck out six times, but he's also driven in seven runs. Porcello is going to have to be careful there.
Saturday, April 25, 7:05 p.m.
Justin Masterson (2-0, 5.74 ERA) vs. Wei-Yin Chen (0-1, 3.07 ERA)
Masterson essentially used one pitch -- albeit a devastating one, his slider -- to gut his way through five innings on a cold, rainy morning in Boston on Monday. The right-hander allowed just one run on three hits and three walks while striking out six. He'll likely face a Baltimore lineup a bit more into the game this time around, as the Orioles seemed more focused on their getaway on that raw Monday morning game.
Chen had himself a fascinating game, as he allowed five runs, though none were earned. Nevertheless, he took the loss for his 4 1/3-inning, three-hit, five-walk performance. You can almost throw out those stats, considering the unique circumstances of that 11 a.m. start time.
KEY MATCHUP: Mike Napoli vs. Wei-Yin Chen
It's been a slow start to the season for Mike Napoli, who enters the weekend hitting .157. He may be in line for a day off on Saturday, based on his history against Chen. Though he has slugged two homers against Chen, Napoli is 3-for-18 against the lefty. Chen did get Napoli to go 0-for-1 last week, but he also walked him twice.
Sunday, April 26, 1:35 p.m.
Wade Miley (1-1, 6.08 ERA) vs. Bud Norris (0-2, 17.42 ERA)
Bud. Your ERA. Woof!
http://i.imgur.com/RyVBIIK.gif
Norris has twice faced the Toronto Blue Jays this season, and he's given up 17 earned runs over just 5 1/3 innings. Holy smokes. Sandwiched in between those starts was a five-inning, three-run performance against the Yankees. The Red Sox would no doubt love to add to his 2015 misery.
Miley is coming off his best start of the season, when he shut out the Rays over 5 2/3 innings on Tuesday. He did issue a season-high four walks, which is something he'll have to improve if he hopes to avoid trouble on Sunday.
KEY MATCHUP(S): Everth Cabrera vs. Wade Miley/Allen Craig vs. Bud Norris
The current Orioles roster doesn't have much experience against former Diamondback Wade Miley, but former Padre Everth Cabrera has plenty -- and he's found success. Cabrera is 10-for-21 with a double, triple and home run against Miley.
On the other side, Sunday may be a good opportunity for Allen Craig to get a start, as he is 8-for-20 with a double and two dingers off Norris.
Read more from Michael Hurley by clicking here. You can email him or find him on Twitter @michaelFhurley.