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Red Sox-Blue Jays Preview

Apr 27, 2010 - 5:51 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Boston (8-11) at Toronto (10-9), 7:07 p.m. EDT

Help could be on the way soon for the Boston Red Sox's underachieving starting rotation, but for the time being Clay Buchholz could provide a more immediate impact.

Buchholz gets the ball Tuesday when the Red Sox look to win their second straight against the host Toronto Blue Jays.

With free-agent acquisition John Lackey joining veterans Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, Boston (9-11) expected its starting pitching to be a strength in 2010. Instead, the rotation has stumbled to a cumulative 5.56 ERA. Buchholz (1-2, 2.70 ERA) has been the most effective of the bunch, with the only ERA lower than 5.09.

Josh Beckett was tagged for nine hits and eight runs over a season-low three innings in the series opener. Boston's bats bailed him out, outslugging the Blue Jays (10-10) 13-12. Both teams need reinforcements for their respective bullpens after Monday's game, in which 13 pitchers combined to throw 399 pitches over 4 hours, 3 minutes.

Toronto acted immediately following the loss, calling up right-hander Josh Roenicke and lefty Rommie Lewis from Las Vegas.

"We'd be hurting a little bit if we don't get some fresh arms," manager Cito Gaston said.

The same could be said for the Red Sox, whose starters have failed to last six innings nine times in 20 games.

"We need somebody," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "We're a little thin."

Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has been on the disabled list all season due to a strained neck, is expected to take Tim Wakefield's spot in the rotation beginning Saturday in Baltimore, but the current starters must perform better if the Red Sox are to contend.

That includes Buchholz, who has dropped his last two starts. The right-hander struck out a career-high 10 last Thursday against Texas, but also gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings and got charged with a 3-0 defeat. The Red Sox managed six hits - all singles.

They tripled that number with 18 hits Monday - their most since getting 23 in an 18-10 victory in Baltimore last Aug. 2. Former Blue Jays shortstop Marco Scutaro had three of the hits, as did Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Adrian Beltre and Jason Varitek.

Varitek had four RBIs and raised his batting average to .357, but Victor Martinez is expected to be back behind the plate Tuesday after Varitek caught all nine innings of the opener.

Martinez is 4 for 8 with three doubles and a homer against Toronto starter Shaun Marcum (0-1, 4.00), who will try to help the Blue Jays avoid their first four-game losing streak since Sept. 16-20.

The right-hander surrendered three runs - all on a first-inning homer by Jose Guillen - in seven innings of Wednesday's 4-3, 10-inning loss to Kansas City. He's 4-1 with a 3.63 ERA in six starts against Boston.

Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay went 3 for 5 with a two-run double and a solo homer Monday, helping the Blue Jays record season highs in runs and hits (16).

Overbay, who is batting .429 in his last six games, is 6 for 14 lifetime against Buchholz.

Vernon Wells has enjoyed far less success versus the Red Sox righty - going 2 for 12 - but he is 8 for 18 with five doubles in his last four games against Boston.

Boston has won four straight at Rogers Centre, five of seven overall, and is seeking to clinch its third straight series win.