Game 81 - Tampa Bay (game 12)

As usual all statistics were found at the day by day database at Baseball Musings.

Well the last game of the first half of the season (all star break is really past the mid point), and the boys are 2 and 2 on this current road trip. Today (it is after midnight right?), Schilling goes against former Sox Casey Fossum. This will be the second Left Hander to start this series for Tampa Bay and the second time this year that Fossum will face the Sox at home.

Schilling has a 7 and 3 record against the Devil Rays as a Sox starter. In those games he has had 6 quality starts with a 4.08 ERA. His numbers at Tampa are actually better than his overall numbers, with a 5 and 3 record, 3.86 ERA and 5 quality starts. He has one loss at Tampa this year (another Kazmir gem) but he did go 6 innings only giving up 3 runs. Curt is 1 and 0 in his last 3 starts this year pitching 19 innings and only allowing 7 earned runs for a 3.32 era. In 13 of his 17 starts this year he has 13 quality starts with the team going 14 and 3 in those starts.

Fossum faced Boston at home once this year going 6 innings and allowing no runs and getting the win back on 4/28. Overall, he has faced the Sox as a starter 4 games with a 1 and 2 record (3 quality starts). His last 3 starts he has went 1 and 1 pitching 16 2/3 innings and allowing 9 earned runs. Casey has made 14 starts this year with 8 being quality starts and a team record of 7 and 7.

With numbers like those I am going with Schilling for the win. (the only disturbing thing that I noticed and makes me pensive, is that the Sox are only 3 and 10 on the turf this year).

ESPN.com preview is here.
If there is a MLB.com press pass it will be here.