Red Sox v Royals Preview: Matsuzaka v Bannister

Here's the starting lineup for today, courtesy of Extra Bases.

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
7. J.D. Drew, RF
8. Kevin Cash, C
9. Julio Lugo, SS

Daisuke could be come the AL's first 8 game winner today as the Sox look to sweep the Royals and win their 7th straight before heading to Oakland.

Jose Guillen is the only guy with more than a game's worth of ABs against Matsuzaka... and he's batting .333 (4-12) with a double and 3 RBI... but he's just 1 for 11 with 4 K's in the series.

David DeJesus is 2-3 with a homer... and is 4 for his last 9, with a 3-5 showing yesterday.

The Red Sox will see Brian Bannister. Bannister was red hot out of the gate winning his first 3 starts, but lost the next 5 of 6 to fall to 4-5 with a 4.29 ERA. Like Dice-K, Bannister likes to paint the corners and pitch around batters rather than attack them. The Red Sox are one of the most patient teams in the league, so this could be a long afternoon...

Ortiz, Manny and Pedroia all hit home runs off of Bannister in their last meeting in 2007. Bannister lasted 6 innings and gave up just 4 runs, but lost to Kason Gabbard, who pitched a complete game 3-hitter that day.