Red Sox 07 Game 28

Friday, May 4 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 8:10 PM ET

BOS Tim Wakefield, RHP (2-3, 2.59) Red Sox (18-9) @ MIN Carlos Silva, RHP (2-1, 3.10) Twins (15-13)

AL East Standings

Team	W	L	GB	L 10	Exp W	Exp L
Boston	18	9	-	6 - 4	18	9
Tampa	13	15	5.5	6 - 4	11	17
Toronto	13	15	5.5	5 - 5	15	13
N. York	11	14	6.0	3 - 7	14	11
Baltimore	12	16	6.5	1 - 9	13	15

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From MLB.Com Scouting Report

Red Sox: Wakefield's biggest problem this season has been a lack of run support. The Red Sox have scored a total of four runs in his three losses. In his start on Saturday, Wakefield didn't have his usual control, walking six while throwing 117 pitches over 5 1/3 innings in a 3-1 loss to the Yankees. Wakefield is 9-13 with a 4.60 ERA lifetime against the Twins. He always enjoys pitching indoors, and he's 6-3 with a 4.38 ERA at the Metrodome.

Twins: Silva wasn't exactly a model of efficiency, but he did enough to win his start against the Tigers on Saturday. Silva gave up 10 hits and a walk, but won the game, allowing three runs over six innings. Amazingly, he threw just 95 pitches, as he benefited from two outfield assists from Michael Cuddyer. Silva is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in four games against 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	8	3	0	0	0	1	0	2	.375
K. Youkilis	5	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.400
D. Ortiz	9	4	1	0	0	0	1	1	.444
M. Ramirez	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000
J.D. Drew	6	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	.167
M. Lowell	13	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	.231
D. Mirabelli	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
C. Crisp	15	4	2	0	0	2	0	0	.267
A. Cora	15	6	1	0	0	2	0	0	.400
Totals	82	23	5	0	0	5	3	6	.280

Not great numbers against Silva by the starters. I am not expecting Dustin to start, since Cora is 6 for 15 and Pedroia has never faced this pitcher.

Historical Pitching line

Pitcher	GS	W	L	Sho	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA
Wakefield	19	11	4	1	123 1/3	120	58	12	38	103	4.23
Silva	3	2	1	0	20	22	4	3	2	8	1.8

Silva owns the Red Sox. In three starts he has three quality starts. Each start has went at least six innings, with his last start against the Sox (6 /15/2006) being six innings of shut out ball for the win. His one loss came in 2005 in which the Twins allowed two unearned runs in seven innings.

Fortunately Wakefield is pretty good in Minnesota. In 10 starts he has 7 quality starts and is 6 and 3 with a 4.38 ERA. He had one terrible start on 7/25/1996 (3 1/3 IP, 7 earned runs), with out that start his ERA is a very respectable 3.58.