The Red Sox return home after a 10-game road trip and face off against a banged up Tigers club.
Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox
Detroit has lost 13 of its last 16 games and has fallen into third place in the AL Central race. “We’re in emergency mode,” manager Jim Leyland said after Thursday’s loss in Tampa. “When I say that, I’m saying we just have to fight our tails off every day.” This three-game series at Fenway will cap an 11-game stretch against the AL East foes for the club. The Tigers are currently 2-6 in that span and 10-8 against the division this season. Detroit may find itself as a +225 to +250 road underdog for just the second time in three years, while they are a dismal 16-33 overall away from Comerica Park (-1,750). The team has lost 22 of its last 30 games in Boston and has dropped 10 straight overall on the road.
Tigers starting pitcher Armando Galarraga is an even 3-3 with a 4.43 ERA in 12 appearances (11 starts) this season, with the club dropping his last two outings. In those starts, he has allowed seven runs and 15 hits over 14.1 innings, with the team being outscored 13-3 in the process. The right-hander will be making his first start on the road since June 29, bringing in a 1-2 record and 7.78 ERA in four outings away from Detroit. In three career starts against the Red Sox, Galarraga is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. He is set to make his first career start at Fenway Park.
Boston dropped four of seven to begin its West Coast road trip, but finished with a 6-4 record overall thanks to completing a three-game sweep of the Angels. The way we ended the trip, we can take that back with us and get where we’re comfortable,” starting pitcher Josh Beckett said. The Red Sox just finished playing 14 straight games against the AL West division, posting a 7-7 record over that span. Now, the club is set to try and improve upon its 10-9 mark versus the Central division. The team owns a Major League-best 48-27 record at night this season and leads the majors with an average of 5.61 runs under the lights. Boston is 7-6 this year following an off day (-120) and 35-19 in this situation the last three years (+1,020).
Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester is 11-5 with a 2.92 ERA in 20 starts this season, but comes into this outing on a two-game losing streak. In those appearances, he has allowed nine runs (seven earned) and 13 hits over 15.2 innings. The left-hander is a solid 6-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 10 home starts, allowing opponents to hit for a combined .215 average. In two career starts against the Tigers, Lester is a winless 0-1 with a 5.84 ERA. He failed to earn a decision in Detroit on May 15, giving up four runs and four hits in seven frames. The Tigers are the only American League team that he has never beaten.
Bettors will find the Red Sox as a home favorite of -225 to -250 for the first time this season and 14th time over the last three years (+70). The total in those games stands at 7-5 O/U. The Tigers are dangerous versus left-handed starters, posting a solid 17-10 mark in 2010 (+730) and the total is 15-12 O/U in those contests.
