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ALCS Preview: Tonight’s Pitching Matchup — Matsuzaka v Shields
By Administrator | October 10, 2008
Daisuke Matsuzaka had an excellent season for the Red Sox, albeit an imperfect one. His start in the ALDS was more of the same: five innings pitched, lots of base runners, a high-wire act, and ultimately — with help from the bullpen — a win.
Overall, Dice-K was 18-3, 2.90, in 29 starts… he was 9-0, 2.37 in thirteen starts away from Fenway Park. Opponents hit .211 against him for the year… he recorded 154 strikeouts in just 167 2/3 innings pitched. Unlike last season, when he broke down in the second half due to fatigue, he went 8-2, 3.18, after the All-Star break.
But control was a major problem… he threw too many pitches and walked too many batters (94)… as a result he threw too few innings.
In Game 2 of the ALDS, he allowed three runs on eight hits and three walks… in five innings pitched.
The Red Sox will need more from him in the ALCS and World Series if they hope to repeat as world champions.
He made three starts against the Rays this season — and true to form he pitched a total of fifteen innings in those three outings. He went 1-0, 3.00, in those outings… he surrendered five runs on thirteen hits and ELEVEN walks, while striking out seventeen.
Tampa 2B Akinori Iwamura (.375, 9-for-24) and 1B Carlos Pena (.313, 5-for-16, 1 HR and 4 rbi) have had the most success against Dice-K… CF B J Upton has gone just 1-for-13 (.077).
James Shields has emerged as a front-of-the-rotation performer for Tampa Bay. He went 14-8, with a 3.56 ERA during the regular season… he was even better at home, going 9-2, 2.59, in seventeen outings at Tropicana Field.
Opponents hit .254 against him. He walked only 40 and struck out 160 hitters in 215 innings pitched.
He won his start in the ALDS… going 6 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on six hits and a walk.
David Ortiz has hit .500 against him (7-for-14) with 2 HR and 6 rbi… JD Drew has hit .333 (5-for-15) with 1 HR and 2 rbi. Meanwhile, Kevin Youkilis has dad NO success against Shields — he is hitless in seventeen career at bats against him (with three walks).
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David Ortiz, on “The Trop”: “I like it. I like this field. I like hitting here. The ball seems like it goes a long way”.
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Game One prediction:
This matchup is a toss-up. While Dice-K has oft-times been brutal at home he has been fantastic on the road… and he was the Red Sox ONLY pitcher to actually win a game at Tropicana Field this season (September 15th… 5 IP, 1 ER).
Shields LOVES to pitch at home.
The game promises to be a low-scoring, extra-innings affair… I see it going 11-innings, with the Red Sox grabbing a 3-2 win to take the early advantage in the series. This is Papi’s time to shine… Ortiz will hit the game-winning home run.
Topics: MLB Playoffs, Sox Games, Sox Players |
