Game Preview: Stanks @ Sox, GM 2

Karstens (NR) vs. Beckett (3-0, 1.50)

The madness resumes this afternoon in Fenway as the teams try to forget about the emotional roller-coaster they rode last night and get back to focusing on playing another game.

Despite A-Rod's superhuman-like heroics, the Sox have to feel like they have the upper hand in the rest of the series.

Why?

Because while Boston will throw two of its best pitchers in the final two games, Beckett & Dice-K, New York counters with Jeff Karstens, fresh off the disabled list and yet to throw a pitch in a game this season, and rookie Chase Wright, who won his first start despite allowing 5 earned runs in 5 innings against Cleveland.

Beckett is one of the hottest pitchers in the majors, winning all three of his starts in convincing fashion by mixing up his pitches & not relying solely on the fastball. That has made him extremely difficult to figure out, and his confidence is growing with every start.

Not to mention the fact that closer Jonathan Papelbon will be available for this game, unlike last night, and you have to think embattled Stankee closer Mariano Rivera will not be available after his disastrous outing last night.

The big question today is "what's wrong with Rivera?" After he blew his second consecutive save for only the 7th time in his long & storied career, running his record to 1-2 with a shocking 8.44 ERA, the question lingers like a smog cloud over the Big Apple.

The answer is simple: the guy is about 57 years old, teams (especially the Sox) have faced him 4,796 times in his lengthy career, and he has one reliable pitch, the cutter.

You do the math.

Game 2 today at 3:30 on FOX.

Bring it on, Evil Empire.

The Jedi Knights await.