Boston @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Apr 30, 2010 ) Boston 4, Baltimore 5
Daisuke Matsuzaka finally makes his 2010 debut on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.
It’s a chance to clear himself of his worst season since coming to the Boston Red Sox from Japan before the 2007 season.
Matsuzaka started the campaign on the disabled list with a neck strain, but appears to be right after an impressive rehab stint for Triple-A Pawtucket that saw the right-hander post a 2-0 mark with a 1.62 ERA.
His spot in the rotation was never in doubt – knuckleballer Tim Wakefield was bounced to the bullpen - but he does need to rebound from a disastrous 2009 season. Last season, he made only 12 starts after returning from the World Baseball Classic out of shape and then sustained an abdominal strain.
Matsuzaka has done some great things in a Red Sox uniform, but there is still some work to be done when it comes to living up to reputation that he accompanied him from overseas.
Almost as big as the $103.11 million price tag - $51.11 million went just toward the right to sign him - was the reputation and the myth of rubber-arm qualities that came with him.
There were stories about 250-pitch, 17-inning complete games and coming out the bullpen the next day for a win that traveled with him.
After last season’s 4-6 mark in 12 starts with a 5.79 ERA, some of that reputation took a hit - but the 29-year-old gets the chance to start anew with Saturday's game against the Orioles.
His counterpart is also getting a second chance of sorts.
Baltimore recalled Brad Bergesen to make the start on Saturday after he was sent down to Triple-A following a difficult beginning to the year.
Bergesen, 29, made three starts and posted an 0-2 mark with a 12.19 ERA before ending up in Norfolk’s rotation. Orioles manager Dave Trembley talked with him Friday and came away believing the right-hander will be more comfortable this time around.
That wasn’t a question last season when he made 19 starts to become one of the team’s pleasant surprises. He went 7-5 with a 3.43 ERA.
The Orioles are desperate for something positive to keep building on the series opening walk-off win against the Red Sox. It was just the fifth win against 18 defeats this season.