Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Red Sox vs. Orioles (May 17, 2011)

Baltimore Orioles (19-21) @ Red Sox (21-20)

SP - Tim Wakefield (0-1, 5.48) vs. Zach Britton (5-2, 2.42)

Lineup has not yet been posted.  If the weather delays the game make sure to stop by The Baseball Tavern to stay dry, have a few cold ones, and watch the Bruins try to even the Eastern Conference Finals.

Three Strikes:

1. Tim Wakefield gets the spot start in place of John Lackey (2-5, 8.01), who was placed on the disabled list with a right elbow strain.  Lackey's struggles go well beyond his arm.  His wife Krista is fighting breast cancer and after his last start in Toronto he stated to reporters that his "life sucks" right now.  Hopefully Krista Lackey will have a full recovery, which is obviously way more important that baseball.  Red Sox fans need to support Lackey as he tries to get his life in order and this note from the Globe's Peter Abraham is a great idea.

2. Wakefield's opponent tonight, Zach Britton, is an early leader in the race for the American League Rookie of the Year.  The 23-year-old Britton is off to a fantastic start for the Orioles and is a major part of the young talent base in Baltimore that gives O's fans a reason to have hope for the immediate future.

3. With all the talent in the Red Sox clubhouse, it's amazing to think that it took them 41 games to get over .500.  As long as the pitching is good - and with Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, and Clay Buchholz at the top of the rotation and Jonathan Papelbon and Daniel Bard in the bullpen, there's no reason to think that it won't be good - this team will be a contender for the World Series come October.

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