Red Sox v Tigers Preview

Tim Wakefield will square off with Nate Robertson tonight. These two went head-to-head in the last series as well - a game the eventually got ugly when the bullpens were called. Wake walked 5 over 5 innings, but gave up just 3 hits and 2 runs to the then struggling Tigers, and secured the victory. Robertson gave up 4 runs - all in the 4th - and then the Tiger's bullpen collapsed and the Sox won 12-6.

Tim Wakefield
Last Start: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 4 BB, 3 ER, HR, 0 K, W
in Comerica: 2-3 in 5 starts with a 5.08 ERA
Match-up to Watch: Magglio Ordonez is 15-35 (.429) with 2 HRs, 5 doubles and 8 RBI against Wakefield... He's only whiffed twice and has 3 stolen bases as well.

Wake has allowed just 2.8 runs per game so far this year, but is only 2-1 in six starts. The Sox have not scored much for him - if you take out the 12-6 over Detroit in which 8 runs were scored after the start of the 7th - the Sox average just 3.6 R/G for Timmy.

Given his history at Commerica, lets hope the Sox keep up this 8 R/G pace they've kept going since Friday - cause Wake's gonna need it.

Nate Robertson
Last Start: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 4 ER, HR, 3 K, W
vs Boston: 2-4 in 8 starts with a 6.46 ERA
Match-up to Watch: Coco Crisp actually lead the way with a .281 BA, 2 homers, 5 RBI and 4 walks against Robertson. Coco got the start over Ellsbury last time we saw Nate, so I expect the same tonight...

Robertson has lived up to his averages so far this year. He's allowed 4 or 5 earned runs in all 6 of his starts... resulting in just one win - the one he got against the Yankees his last time out.

Robertson gives Manny (.214 in 14 ABs) and Ortiz (.136, 7 Ks in 22 ABs) trouble so it will be up to the red hot Kevin Youkilis (.333 w/ 2 HRs), Mike Lowell (.300), Tek (.364 w/ a HR) and Drew (3-3 in last game vs NR) to put some runs on the board for Wakefield.

Bottom Line: The Tigers need a win right now and if Wake has an off day, they could pounce... I predict a slugfest tonight.