Boston Red Sox @ Minnesota Twins
Coming off a sweep of the Detroit Tigers, the Red Sox are set to travel to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Twins in a 4 game series at the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome.
The Twins are currently 16-18 and in 4th place in the Central Division, 5.5 games behind the Chicago White Sox (22-13). Minnesota ranks 14th in the American League with 129 runs scored and 13th in batting average, .255. They have surrendered 150 runs (3rd) while compiling an ERA of 4.96, which ranks 10th. Their bullpen, on the other hand, sports an ERA of 2.43, ranking 2nd.
The Red Sox currently rank second in the American League with a 3.73 ERA from third pitching staff. (4.38 starters, 6th and 2.17 bulpen, 1st) Offensively, the Sox are hitting .288 as a team, good for 2nd best in the AL. Their 209 runs also ranks second.
This is the first meeting between the two clubs in 2008.
Projected Matchups:
5/9: Josh Beckett (1-2, 3.86 ERA) v. Glen Perkins (1st start)
5/10: Daisuke Matsuzaka 93-3, 5.40) v. Boof Bonser (1-3, 3.94)
5/11: Jon Lester (3-1, 5.54) v. Kevin Slowey (6-1, 3.41)
5/12: Tim Wakefield (5-0, 2.15) v. Nick Blackburn (0-4, 6.50)