Red Sox 07 Game 27

Thursday, May 3 Fenway Park 7:05 PM ET

Horacio Ramirez, LHP (2-1, 4.41) Mariners (12-10) @ Daisuke Matsuzaka, RHP (3-2, 4.36) Red Sox (17-9)

AL East Standings

Team	W	L	GB	L 10	Exp W	Exp L
Bos	17	9	-	6 - 4	17	9
Tor	13	14	4.5	5 - 5	15	12
Tam	12	15	5.5	4 - 4	10	17
Bal	12	16	6.0	1 - 9	13	15
NYY	10	14	6.0	2 - 8	13	11

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: Even though he won his last two starts -- both against the Yankees -- Matsuzaka will be glad to go on to another opponent. He wasn't sharp in his two encounters with New York, giving up 10 runs over 13 innings. This will be Matsuzaka's second start against the Mariners. He was a tough-luck, 3-0 loser to Felix Hernandez in the April 11 game at Fenway Park. In that one, Matsuzaka gave up eight hits and three runs over seven innings.

Mariners: A lot of moxie carried Ramirez a long way in his last start, as he stranded seven runners in the first three innings, a trend he would not like to make a habit. The good part was he made good pitches when he needed to, and that allowed him to pitch into the seventh inning for the first time in three starts. Ramirez has never faced the Red Sox.

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

Player	AB	Hits	2b	3b	HR's	RBI	BB's	K's	BA
J. Lugo	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.000
K. Youkilis	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
D. Ortiz	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
M. Ramirez	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
J.D. Drew	4	1	0	0	0	1	1	1	.250
M. Lowell	15	6	0	0	1	2	2	0	.400
J. Varitek	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
C. Crisp	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
D. Pedroia	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Totals	22	7	0	0	1	3	4	2	.318

Its possible that we may see Wily Mo Pena in this game. He has a history against Horacio, though limited, but still he is 2 for 7 with a home run, 2 rbi, 3 walks and only 1 k. The three walks might be the tipping point. Plus, Manny has played in every game so he is due for a day off.

Historical Pitching line

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA
Ramirez	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Matsuzaka	1	0	1	0	7	8	3	0	1	4	3.86

Daisuke has only faced the Mariners once, in one of the better games, in my opinion, that he has pitched this year. Unfortunately for him, King Felix was on the mound for the Mariners . Look for Daisuke to sparkle, including in the 4th inning today.