Tuesday, April 17, 2007

MLB 07 - Game 12

Update: Am I good or what - Pena in, Crisp batting second. Not bad if I do say so myself (pat, pat).

Tuesday, April 17 Rogers Centre 7:07 PM ET

Daisuke Matsuzaka, RHP (1-1, 2.57) Red Sox (7-4) @ Gustavo Chacin, LHP (1-0, 4.91) Blue Jays (7-5)

Boston 1/2 game ahead of Toronto, 1 game ahead of Baltimore, and 2 ahead of NYY. First game of 3 game series.

ESPN.Com preview should be here.
Yahoo's preview should be here.
The recap after the game will be here.

From MLB.Com Scouting Report:

Red Sox: Matsuzaka was solid though not spectacular in his last start, giving up eight hits and three runs over seven innings in a 3-0 loss to the Mariners. Matsuzaka has allowed 14 hits over 14 innings over his first two starts. His control has been as advertised, with Matsuzaka striking out 14 batters while walking just two. Opponents are hitting .240 against him. Thanks to a rainout against the Mariners, Matsuzaka will have five days of rest in this start, which is what he became accustomed to in Japan.

Blue Jays: In his last outing, Chacin recorded his first win of the season and continued his strong start to 2007. The 26-year-old lefty surrendered three runs on five hits over five innings against the Royals. Chacin has experienced a lot of success versus Boston during his three-year career. He is 5-0 with an ERA of 4.29 in seven starts.

As usual all statistics were found at the day by day database at Baseball Musings and this year at Baseball Reference.

Expected Batters vs opposing starter


PlayerABHits2b3bHR'sRBIBB'sK'sBA
J. Lugo154100201.267
K. Youkilis102010022.200
D. Ortiz165102422.313
M. Ramirez112000030.182
J. Varitek133000222.231
M. Lowell93200011.333
W.M. Pena52100010.400
C. Crisp73000001.429
D. Pedroia40000010.000
Totals 90245128129.267



I haven't seen the starting line ups yet, but I have the feeling that J.D. Drew will sit out this game since he has never faced Chacin while Wily Mo will be in the line up since he has had some success against this pitcher (although in a limited history). I also, think that Coco will be in the line up since he has success and I would not be surprised if he bats 2nd in the hopes that he can get off the slide he is in. We need Coco to hit and as I have said before, he should be #2 in this line up.

Historical Pitching lines

PitcherGSWLShoIPHERHRBBKERA
Chacin750035 2/34217315114.29
Matsuzaka0000000000-----



Chacin has to be one of the most frustrating pitchers the Sox face. In 7 games against the Sox he has 2 quality starts. However in 5 of those starts he has only given up 3 or less earned runs. What has to kill the Sox is that he seems to get out of trouble all the time and only once has he not lasted at least 5 innings (9/27/2005).

As for Daisuke, he has never faced this team and it will be interesting how he approaches a line up that is patient and yet very potent. This will be a true test of his ability, so let us hope he approaches it the same way as he did the Mariner game.

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