Red Sox are now in a battle for the Wild Card with the Rays and I expect them to come up big on Tuesday against a pitcher they have always dominated in Brandon Morrow. The odds are where they are because Wakefield is pitching and Morrow has been miles better on the road than home this year. However I'm looking strictly at the numbers and the Blue Jays have 128 AB vs. Wakefield and a .242 average .642 OPS while the Red Sox have 134 AB vs. Morrow a .321 and 1.009 OPS. That's a huge difference and when you add in that the Sox are at home here fighting for the playoffs now I expect Wakefield to come up with a clutch outing. Morrow's last 5 starts vs. the Sox he has a 14.43 ERA and a 2.48 WHIP I don't see how he could go into this match up with any kind of confidence. Ellsbury, Gonzalez, Pedroia, and Scutoro combined are 30-64 with 5 HR.
Two young pitchers and the Braves are just among the worst in the majors vs. LHP and over their last 10 they are .238 average and 1.67 runs per 9 vs. LHP while the Marlins are .274 5.93. Last time the Marlins got to Minor 4 IP 9 hits 6 ER and they are 9-4 in their last 13 vs. LH starters.
Cardinals are quietly still in the mix they are the best team vs. RHP in the league and Carpenter usually rebounds from bad performances like he had last time out vs. the Pirates. Cardinals are still 14-3 in his last 17 vs. the Pirates, but now he comes on 5 days rest after a complete game vs. the Brewers to face a team that beat him up last time. I think he'll be motivated to throw a great game tongiht.
