The 2013 World Series champion Boston Red Sox will be looking for revenge against the Cleveland Indians in a four-game set at Fenway starting on Thursday. The Indians swept the last three-game series between the two clubs, outlasting the Red Sox in three straight nail-biters between the two perennial AL playoff contenders.
The Red Sox come into the series on the edge of panic mode, 9 games behind the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays and seven games below .500.
The Cleveland Indians remain prime contenders for an AL Wild Card spot (2 GB) and the AL Central crown (3 GB), and will be looking to put a dismal 12-22 start to their 2014 road schedule behind them in this four-game trip to New England.
Snapshot:
Home: Boston Red Sox (29-36, 15-18 home)
Away: Cleveland Indians (33-33, 12-22 away)
Key Stat:
Boston's Dustin Pedroia is hitting just .214 with runners in scoring position, and is currently sporting a .714 OPS - 100 points less than his career average.
Indians Outlook:
The Indians may look back at their last series against Boston as the place where their season finally turned around for the better.
Going into the series at 27-30, the Tribe took three straight from the Red Sox at Progressive Field to climb back to the .500 mark - a position which instantly made them playoff contenders in a very mediocre AL Wild Card field.
The Indians have gone 3-3 since, but if they can provide a repeat performance of their last series against the Red Sox in this visit to Fenway, the Indians could climb up yet another rung on the AL playoff ladder.
Red Sox Outlook:
In order for the Boston Red Sox to ascend back to the top of the MLB mountain, they will have to figure out the formula to get back to playing consistent baseball in all facets of the game - and quickly.
After a red flag-raising ten game losing streak in mid-May, the Sox looked to have righted the ship with a seven-game winning streak which brought them back within two games of .500.
Since then? They've lost seven of their last nine, alternating between a dead offense (they've scored three runs or less in six of those contests) and untimely bullpen implosions which leave more questions than answers for the world champions with the middle of June approaching.
What to Watch For:
Staff aces lock horns in a Friday night showdown, as John Lackey (7-4, 3.18) takes the mound against resurgent Cleveland right-hander Justin Masterson (4-4, 4.61).
After a very tough start to the 2014 season, Masterson has given up just two earned runs and eight hits in his last two starts (12.2 IP), including a seven-inning gem of a victory over the Red Sox on June 2nd.
On the other hand, Lackey has been as consistent as can be for the Sox - producing quality starts in 10 of his 13 outings so far this year.
What They're Saying About the Indians:
Swisher feels good after his first rehab game (Official Site of the Indians)
Lonnie Chisenhall and the greatest Wikipedia edit ever (Chat Sports)
What They're Saying About the Red Sox:
Sox sign veteran outfielder Torres (Camden Chat)
Should the Red Sox be concerned about Dustin Pedroia? (Bo Sox Injection)
