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Braves-Red Sox Preview

Jun 19, 2009 - 5:10 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Atlanta (30-34) at Boston (40-25), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Both the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves were hoping for big things when they ventured to Japan and opened their checkbooks to add to their starting rotations.

So far, the results have been mixed.

Currently, Atlanta's Kenshin Kawakami is looking like a better investment than countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka, but the Red Sox's enigmatic right-hander will have another chance to turn his season around as the teams continue their interleague rivalry after a one-year hiatus Friday night at Fenway Park.

Boston paid more than $50 million just to negotiate with Matsuzaka before the 2007 season, and he rewarded them with 33 wins in his first two seasons and a 2.90 ERA last year.

But he has spent time on the disabled list in 2009 and has not been effective when healthy. Matsuzaka (1-4, 7.55 ERA) has failed to get through six innings in any of his seven starts, and opponents are hitting .372 against him.

He allowed four runs in four innings Saturday against Philadelphia, and wouldn't blame the struggles on a lengthy rain delay.

"The pitches they hit were mistakes," Matsuzaka said.

With John Smoltz set to come off the disabled list and join the rotation next week, there's pressure on Matsuzaka to show signs of progress.

Kawakami's spot is more secure, as the right-hander has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last eight starts. But he has also had efficiency problems at times, and he needed 104 pitches to get through five innings Saturday at Baltimore.

Kawakami (3-6, 4.54) is in his first season in the majors after signing a three-year, $23 million contract with Atlanta in January.

He'll be trying to pitch the Braves (31-34) to a second straight victory after the team snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Cincinnati 7-0 on Thursday.

Atlanta had managed 11 total runs during its skid, but newcomer Nate McLouth sparked their lineup with a home run, a single and four RBIs in the series finale.

"It was nice to get some runs," McLouth said. "When you're in an extended slump like we were, you start to press. This could help us relax a little."

The Red Sox (40-26) had no such problems offensively until Thursday. They had averaged 6.6 runs while winning seven of eight and were going for a three-game sweep of Florida, but they managed one hit - Kevin Youkilis' homer - in five innings in a rain-shortened 2-1 loss.

"I think a lot of guys are (upset) right now. Absolutely. Without a doubt," third baseman Mike Lowell said.

They still have the best home record in the majors at 23-9.

Last year was only the second time since the start of interleague play that the teams didn't meet. The Braves, whose franchise began in Boston nearly 140 years ago, still have a 25-20 edge in the series, but the Red Sox have won eight of the last 10.

Matsuzaka allowed three runs without a walk in eight innings of a 13-3 victory in his only start against the Braves in 2007, though Jeff Francoeur went 3 for 3 with a home run against him.

The clubs will play each other six times in the next 10 days, facing off three times at Turner Field next weekend.