love the Sox here as Mark Buehlre has started to come back to earth with a 4.91 ERA in his last two starts. Now he faces a team that has faced him many times before and the active lineup has a .337 average against him in nearly 100AB. That's not including David Ortiz fromt he bench who is 20-58 vs. him. The Red Sox as a team have hit much better vs. LHP (3RD IN OPS) than the Marlins have vs. RHP (26th). I also like the fact that Bucholz seems to be back on top of his game wiht three quality starts in a row posting a 0.92 WHIP and a 1.50 ERA. He'll be back on top of his game today as he faces a Marlins team that is scoring just 2.26 runs per 9 vs. RHP over their last 10 games and have never seen Bucholz before.

Meanwhile Buehlre goes up against the Red Sox who are scoring nearly 2 runs more per 9 vs. LHP than the Marlins are vs. RHP and they are scoring 5.55 over their last 10 combined while sporting a 2.79 bullpen ERA. Speaking of bullpen the Marlins have a 6.51 over their last 10 and a 4.48 ERA at home while the Sox have a 2.84 on the road. I'm not that worried about Bucholz on short rest as Buehlre is too and the Red Sox are 26-7 in their last 33 with Bucholz on 4 days rest. Marlins are 21-43 in their last 64 home games vs. a RH starter where they struggle big time.


I can't help but back the big guy who is 8-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 12 interleague starts against the Braves whom I believe will struggle vs. LHP when it is all said and done. They have a combined .669 OPS in 54 AB vs. C.C. and while the Yankees have never seen Minor he has the worst ERA in the big leagues among qualified starters. Yankees are also among the best in hitting LHP as they are 42-18 in their last 60 overall and an AL best 12-7. They also own a major advantage in their bullpen. Minor has to watch out for the long ball once again as he faces the Yankees who are #1 in HR vs. LHP and 6th in BB. That all goes along with their #1 rank vs. the fastball. If Minor can't get his other pitches over for strikes it will be a long night and that's how he's been this year.

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