The Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers are set to play the second game of a Sunday doubleheader at Comerica Park

Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers

Boston is set to play its first doubleheader of the year today and has won 12 of its last 14 games.  This is the only visit to Detroit for the club this season with both sides agreeing to an unusual Sunday situation.  “We talked about it, what’s in everybody’s best interest,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona.  “We didn’t want to come back Thursday.  We’re here, let’s play.”  The Red Sox are in first place in the American League East, which is a remarkable accomplishment of being only the fifth team in Major League history to reach first place in the standings after losing at least 10 of their first 12 decisions.  The club is 13-5 on the road since April 20, giving it the best road mark in the Majors over that span.  Boston is 10-5 in day games this season.

Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett is 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA in 10 starts this season and earned the win in Boston’s 4-2 victory on May 24 at Cleveland.  The right-hander lasted 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits and registering six strikeouts.  Beckett has gone nine straight starts without a loss since dropping his season opener on April 5, tallying a 4-0 mark and 1.37 ERA.  He has allowed only one earned run in two career starts at Comerica Park, producing a 2-0 record and 0.61 ERA.

Detroit still have five games remaining on its nine-game homestand and will be looking to improve upon its 116-69 mark at Comerica Park since the start of the 2009 season.  With Saturday’s rain out, it marked the fourth time in nine scheduled home games for Detroit that a game was postponed.  The previous three postponements this season came in series finales, so they were rescheduled for later in the season.  The Tigers enter this afternoon’s game versus the Red Sox with a 13-10 record during day games this season.  The club is tied with San Diego for the Major League lead in that particular category.  Detroit is 13-21 versus right-handed starters.

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander is 4-3 with a 3.42 ERA in 11 starts this season and enters the day fourth in the American League with 73 strikeouts.  The right-hander will be making his 35th start of his career during the month of May, posting a 20-8 mark and 2.81 ERA.  Verlander has compiled a 1-0 record and 2.35 ERA over his last three outings versus the Red Sox, while also registering 25 strikeouts.  He is tops among all active American League pitchers with 49 wins at home since the start of the 2006 season.

Bettors will likely back the Red Sox due to their 22-7 record in Beckett’s last 29 starts versus the AL Central, while the Tigers are 2-5 in their last seven games versus the AL East.