Red Sox-Rays Pitching Matchups: Miley Opens Series Looking To Bounce Back
BOSTON (CBS) -- After splitting their four-game set with the Orioles, the Red Sox now head south to face another AL East rival.
Boston begins their six-game road trip with a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.
Tuesday, April 21 -- 7:10pm
Wade Miley (0-1, 10.57 ERA) vs. Chris Archer (2-1, 1.37 ERA)
Miley looks to bounce back after a terrible start against the Nationals at Fenway last Wednesday, in which he allowed seven earned runs over just 2.1 innings pitched. He won his only career start at the Trop, holding the Rays to two hits over 6.1 innings while striking out eight in a 7-0 Diamondbacks win back in 2013.
Archer is pitching very well to start this season, but hasn't enjoyed too much success against Boston over his career. He is 1-4 with a 6.03 ERA in seven career starts against the Sox, going 0-2 against them in four starts last season. In an 8-4 loss to Boston last August, Archer allowed seven earned runs off 10 hits in four innings, with Mookie Betts taking him deep.
Key Matchup: David Ortiz vs. Archer
Big Papi has hit Archer hard, going 6-for-15 with a homer and eight RBI against him in his career. Daniel Nava has also had success against the Tampa Bay righty, going 5-for-9 with a homer and three RBI.
Wednesday, April 22 -- 7:10pm
Joe Kelly (1-0, 2.13 ERA) vs. Nathan Karns (1-1, 4.58 ERA)
After two starts, Kelly has been Boston's best starter this season. He's allowed just three runs over 12.2 innings of work and checks in with a 0.71 WHIP -- third lowest on the team behind Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa.
Karns is coming off a no decision against the Yankees in which he allowed a pair of earned runs in five innings, striking out five. This will be the 27-year-old's first career start against Boston.
Key Matchup: David DeJesus vs. Kelly
DeJesus is 3-for-9 in his career against Kelly. Asrubal Cabrera is the only other member of the Rays with any experience against Kelly, going 1-for-3.
No Red Sox batters have ever faced Karns.
Thursday, April 23 -- 7:10pm
Clay Buchholz (1-2, 6.06 ERA) vs. Jake Odorizzi (2-1, 1.74 ERA)
Buchholz was a little better his last time out, allowing just two runs in six innings to the Orioles on Saturday, but was still maddening with his slow pace and uncanny ability to escape without much damage after loading the bases.
The Sox starter loaded the bases twice in Saturday's start, and both innings felt more like a dentist appointment than a baseball game. The Orioles tagging him for a pair of runs in the third before he made his great escape, and then he got out of trouble in the sixth inning after loading the bases thanks to a 2-3-2 double play.
But he allowed 12 baserunners during the stint on 11 hits and one walk, and won't always be able to pitch his way out of such jams, especially on the road.
Odorizzi has been solid for the Rays in three starts, allowing just four runs and nine hits over 20.2 innings of work against the Orioles, Blue Jays and Yankees. He is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA in five career starts against the Red Sox, but has held Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Mookie Betts and Shane Victorino to just four hits with five strikeouts in 24 collective at-bats.
Key Matchup: Evan Longoria vs. Buchholz
Longoria is just 8-for-40 with 14 strikeouts against Buchholz.