Game Preview: Sox @ Stanks

GM 3 1PM
Tavarez (0-2, 8.36) vs. Wang (0-1, 6.14)

The Stanks finally got on the BOS/NY scoreboard yesterday afternoon with their 3-1 victory over Boston, breaking a 4-game losing streak against their AL East counterparts and a 7-game skid overall.

And despite the fact that the Stanks are still staggered by injuries and ineffectiveness on its pitching staff, Jeff Karstens the latest to join the wounded with the broken leg he suffered yesterday, the Bronx boys have a good shot at putting up a 2-game winning streak after today's game.

That's because the Sox will start its worst pitcher today, Gascan Tavarez, probably (hopefully) for the last time as Jon Lester is set to come off the DL this week.

Tavarez was been an emergency solution in the rotation when Lester wasn't going to be ready to start the season with the big club and pas decided to head back to the pen. So to his credit, Julie has held the line while Lester rehabbed from chemotherapy treatments for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Unfortunately the only way Tavarez can hold the line is by allowing 8 1/2 runs per 9 innings, more than 1 hit/inning, and nearly 1 run for every inning he has pitched (14.1IP, 13R)

New York will counter with recently recovered Chien-Ming Wang. The ace of last year's staff, when he posted a 19-6 record, just came off the DL last week after suffering a hamstring injury in spring training. He made his first start last Tuesday down here in Tampa Bay and allowed 9 hits and 4 runs in 6.1 innings, picking up the loss in a 6-4 Rays win.

Boston wants this game in order to prevent New York from gaining any kind of momentum or feeling of confidence against them. New York obviously wants to establish some kind of continuity, and would also like its most reliable starter from a year ago to regain his form and become the leader that this rotation so desperately needs right now.