Series Preview: Sox @ Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks (36-25)
Chase Field, Phoenix
NL West: 1 GB
STRK: L-1 LST 10: 8-2
AVG: 254 (12th in NL) ERA: 3.58 (3rd)
HRs: 54 (8th)

KEY PLAYERS:

• Eric Byrnes (.319/9/32)--the free-spirited outfielder is known for being a goofball, but he happens to own a 14-game hitting streak, the 8th best average and the 2nd most hits in the NL, and he's in the Top 10 in most offensive categories. He's hot, and can knock in a big run or make a great catch at any given time
• Orlando Hudson (.290/6/34/31R)--the 'O Dog' has found a home in the desert after four season in Toronto. The slick second sacker has already made 8 errors this season after just 13 last year, but he's a respected vet who brings a lot to the table
• Stephen Drew (.238/2/23)--the younger brother of J.D. was supposed to be a major piece of the D-backs youth movement this season, but the shortstop phenom has gotten off to a slow start and has been a major disappointment so far; hmm, must run in the family
• Connor Jackson (.283/4/21)--the big young first baseman has been on a tear lately, ripping off a 15-40 (.375) streak in his last 10 games with 2 homers, a triple, seven doubles and 12 RBIs during the stretch, raising his average nealy 30 points

Probable Pitching Matchups:

GM1 Fri 9:30 Beckett (8-0, 2.95) vs. Davis (4-6, 3.05)
Josh Beckett will try for the second time to win his 9th decision without a loss to start the season when he faces Arizona lefty Doug Davis.

Beckett pitched well in his first start since coming off the DL, allowing 4 runs and 8 hits in 6 1/3 against New York on the 3rd, The A-Rod game, but got no decision. Davis, meanwhile, has had three quality starts in a row, allowing just 4 earned runs in 22.2 innings, lowering his ERA 66 points and posting a 2-1 record.

Coming off of Schill's masterpiece yesterday, Beckett will be amped up to follow suit and Davis, who allows righties to hit nearly .300 off him with 15 doubles and 20 ribbies (hello, Manny), should come back to earth as the Sox get hot again.
MY PICK: Sox

GM2 Sat 9:30 Tavarez (3-4, 5.33) vs. Owings (4-1, 3.86)
Julian has pitched well recently, save for an inning or two here & there, but may be making his last start if Jon Lester is ready to return the rotation next week as expected. Therefore Julie could be even more determined than ever to pitch the game of his life.

Owings is a fascinating case. The rookie righty starred at two schools (Ga. Tech & Tulane), played two positions (first base & pitcher) and was drafted three times before landing with Arizona in 2005.

The D-Backs kept him as a starter, and he made his ML debut in April; he has gone on to make eight starts, and after starting out strong, he had a rough patch in the middle where he allowed 13 earned runs in 17.1 innings, but since then he has given up just 2 ERs in 14 innings while striking out 11, winning both games.

Tough one to call, with the wily vet fighting for his spot in the rotation and a rookie phenom looking to add to an already impressive early resume. Plus he can hit.
MY PICK: D-Backs

GM3 Sun 3:30 Matsuzaka (7-4, 4.63) vs. R. Johnson (3-2, 3.78)
The most intriguing game, pitching-wise, of the series will pit the crafty, rising star Dice-K against the fading fireballing hero, Big Unit.

A total contrast in styles, appearance and demeanor, this game will be like a microcosm of two opposite ends of the athletic spectrum. While Matsuzaka is doughy, baby-faced, humble, and ever polite, Johnson is a long & lanky barking bad-haired badass who looks like the Big Bad Wolf compared to Dice's Little Red Riding Hood.

Johnson began his second go-round with the D-Backs on the DL but has recovered to make eight starts, winning his last three decisions after starting 0-2. In his last 4 starts he has allowed just 4 earned runs in 23.2 innings, giving up just 16 hits and 2 walks while fanning 33. Gulp.

Dice will be trying to bounce back from a 2-game losing, and although he pitched well in a loss to Oakland Tuesday, he's going to have to put a lot of zeroes on the board in order to beat a determined Unit.
MY PICK: D-Backs

PREVIEW:
Good thing the Sox won that streak-breaking game yesterday, because right now the desert is no place to bring a dying animal.

That's because the Diamondbacks are playing like jackals, feasting on the rest of the NL to the tune of a 14-4 stretch that has allowed them to be nipping at the heels of division leader San Diego.

And it's no secret as to how they've done it: pitching. Much like the team the Sox just faced, Oakland, the D-Backs are one of the best staffs in the majors, and they have a multitude of hurlers who can shut a lineup down.

In fact there are currently only two regular pitchers with an ERA over 4.00 on the staff, while an incredible five pitchers have marks under 3.00. In this day and age that is downright phenomenal, and at this stage of the Sox season, it's exactly what they don't need to see.

The other factor working against Boston will be the interleague rules, meaning Papi will have to play first base and either Youk or Lowell will have to sit out. With all three batters swinging hot sticks, the loss of any of them will be a major blow to an already sputtering offense.

In the Sox favor they will miss Cy Young winner Brandon Webb and Livan Hernandez, so they got that going for them.

Solid pitching matchups, the Drew brothers facing off for the first time as pros, Schill returning to his old haunt, and the thrill of playing in a foreign park will add excitement to this series, and with the Sox headed home after Sunday's contest, what better way to end a tough road trip than with a series win.

Go Sox!