Boston @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 13, 2009 ) Detroit 2, Boston 0
Brennan Boesch was merely supposed to be a stop-gap measure for the Detroit Tigers until Carlos Guillen was ready to come off the disabled list. It seems that no one bothered to tell him.
The red-hot Boesch will remain in the lineup as Detroit hosts the Boston Red Sox in the first of a three-game series today at Comerica Park.
Boesch hammered the third home run of his short stint with the club in Thursday’s 6-0 win against CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees. The rookie outfielder is batting .368 with 16 RBIs in just 57 at bats with Detroit.
Boesch may soon create a bit of a dilemma for Tigers skipper Jim Leyland.
How does Leyland sit, or even worse, demote Boesch while the rookie is riding such a hot streak? The answer will come soon.
Guillen is eligible to return to the team. He went on the DL after suffering a hamstring injury on April 23. Leyland said that Guillen will have to go on a rehab assignment before rejoining the Tigers.
Boesch has certainly made the most of his opportunity. The 6-foot-6 slugger gives Detroit power from the left side and, even when Guillen returns, may stick with the parent club.
In the recently completed four-game series against the Yankees, Boesch went 7-for-13 with five RBIs helping the Tigers to win the series 3-1.
It was only the second time this season that the Yankees have lost a series.
Matt Scherzer tries to maintain the Tigers’ winning ways. Scherzer, however, after being acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the offseason, has struggled mightily.
He is 1-3 with at 6.81 ERA and has lost his last two decisions. Scherzer is also winless in his last four starts and has allowed 25 runs in his last 21 innings.
Clay Buchholz starts for the Red Sox, who have won seven of their last 10 games.
Buchholz is 2-0 on the road and has been one of Boston’s most reliable starters. He was hammered, however, by the Yankees in his last outing.
The Red Sox don’t expect to have the services of outfielder Mike Cameron for the entire series. Cameron is recovering from an abdominal strain and has played three games with Triple-A Pawtucket but said that he hopes to return to the lineup Monday against the Yankees.
And Jacoby Ellsbury has intensified his rehab workouts but there is still no timetable for his return. Ellsbury said he still feels sharp pain from the four broken ribs he suffered early in the season.
The Red Sox also don’t know when Josh Beckett will return to the rotation. Beckett suffered back spasms while taking batting practice recently. He was scheduled to throw a side session before his next start but that has been delayed due to his latest ailment.