Boston Red Sox @ Toronto Blue Jays
Friday, May 29 - Sportsnet - 7PM
Tim Wakefield, RHP (6-2, 3.99) vs. Casey Janssen, RHP (0-1, 4.50)
Scouting Report:
Red Sox: Despite lacking the efficiency of his recent starts, Wakefield did precisely what he has done all season for the Red Sox in his last outing -- log innings and keep Boston in contention for a victory. The veteran knuckleballer was tagged for four runs in the first three innings of his May 24 start against the Mets, but he held New York to just one more over the next three frames, allowing the Sox to roar back from a 5-3 deficit for a 12-5 win at Fenway Park. Wakefield is 17-11 lifetime against Toronto with a 3.68 ERA. This will be his 40th career start against the Blue Jays.
Blue Jays: Janssen had a solid game his last time out, which was his first big league outing since 2007. He didn't look rusty, turning in six innings of three-run ball. Unfortunately, Janssen was handed the loss. The right-hander will be facing the Red Sox for the first time as a starter.
Saturday, May 30 - Sportsnet - 1PM
Brad Penny, RHP (5-1, 5.96) vs. Brian Tallet, LHP (2-3, 4.31)
Scouting Report:
Red Sox: Penny couldn't extend his streak of three consecutive starts having pitched into the seventh inning, but the veteran right-hander received the victory on Memorial Day against the Twins anyway. Penny went 5 1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs on six hits and zero walks while striking out seven. He was yanked in the sixth after three Twins hits led to two runs. Penny is 3-0 with a 3.23 ERA in five career starts against the Blue Jays.
Blue Jays: The left-hander has been a pleasant surprise for the Jays since manager Cito Gaston plugged him into the injury-depleted rotation in mid-April. Tallet had been a relief pitcher almost his entire career, but he's given the Jays seven good efforts in his eight starts. His most recent was in Monday's loss to the Orioles, in which the left-hander allowed just two runs in six innings. However, Tallet didn't get much offensive support and took the 4-1 loss. Gaston has been pleased with Tallet, and it will be interesting to see if the Jays keep him in the rotation when everyone comes back.
Sunday, May 31 - Sportsnet - 1PM
Jon Lester, LHP (3-5, 6.07) vs. Ricky Romero, LHP (2-1, 3.08)
Scouting Report:
Red Sox: Lester cruised for four innings on Tuesday against the Twins, but a five-run fifth inning derailed his outing. The 25-year-old southpaw suffered the loss by allowing five earned runs on six hits and three walks in six innings while striking out four. Lester will get familiar AL East foe Toronto next. He is 2-2 with a 3.52 ERA in six career starts against the Blue Jays.
Blue Jays: Romero will be making his second start since returning from an oblique strain that had sidelined him since mid-April. He gave up five runs on 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings on Tuesday in Baltimore. Home runs hurt Romero in that game as he gave up three of them, which helped the Orioles turn a 2-0 deficit into a 5-2 lead by the sixth inning. Manager Cito Gaston liked what he saw in Romero's return and is hoping for more of the same as the rookie settles back into the rotation.
