Beckett returns from the DL not a moment too soon

Boston (3-3) @ Toronto (3-2)
Beckett (NR) vs Halladay (0-1, 3.86)
1:00 Rogers Center TBS HD

Last year Josh Beckett was the savior of the Sox pitching staff. While compiling a 20-7 record with a 3.27 ERA en route to a second place finish in the Cy Young voting, Beckett was counted on many times to stop Boston losing streaks and subsequently start a Sox winning streak, all while sending a statement to opponents by matching up against their own aces.

Today, as Beckett returns from the DL due to spring back troubles, will be no different than last year.

After taking 3 of 4 from Oakland to start the season, Boston has traveled back to the Eastern time zone to run into trouble with their AL East nemesis to the north, the Blue Jays. The Sox have dropped 2 straight at the Rogers Center to start this series and 7 in a row to the Jays dating back to last season, and with the starters struggling and the bullpen faring worse, it will be up to the Sox Superman to save the day.

Trouble is Beckett doesn't bat, and the Boston batters haven't exactly been hitting the cover off the ball early in the season. The team is hitting .242 with 5 homers and 19 runs scored in 6 games, while big boppers David Ortiz (.091, 1HR, 2BI), Manny Ramirez (.250, 1HR) and Mike Lowell (.208, 0HR, 0BI) have yet to get untracked.

But the one thing Becks can contribute is stability to the staff, and that is what Boston will be hoping he can provide for them today. The team ERA is currently at 4.50, the starters have a record of 2-2, and members of the pen are touting ERAs of21.60 (Kyle Snyder) and 11.25 Bryan Corey), prompting the release of Snyder and a retooling of the relievers.

Facing Beckett will be Toronto's own perennial Cy Young candidate, Roy Halladay. Doc was a victim of bad defense and no run support both in the spring and in his first outing, in which he allowed 7 hits and 3 runs to the Stanks over 7 innings but lost 3-2, and he's had little success against the Sox over the years. But with Boston's pen in shambles and the hitters yet to show up this season since the opener, this could be the day he dominates the Boston lineup.

All of this adds up to the perfect time for Superman to fly in and save the day. The Sox don't need much from him; 7 or 8 scoreless innings of 2-hit ball will suffice.

Nothing he hasn't provided before.