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Red Sox-Orioles Preview

May 1, 2010 - 4:55 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Boston (11-11) at Baltimore (4-18), 7:05 p.m. EDT

A key reason for Boston's early underachievement has been the struggles of its starting pitchers. The Red Sox hope the return of Daisuke Matsuzaka can help them improve in that area.

The right-hander is expected to make his season debut Saturday night when the Red Sox continue their road series with the Baltimore Orioles.

An 18-game winner in 2008, Matsuzaka was limited to 12 starts last season mostly because of a shoulder strain. He finished 4-6 with a 5.76 ERA, and was looking for good things in 2010 before he was placed on the disabled list with a neck strain April 3.

Matsuzaka, who threw a strong 69-pitch simulated game Monday, appears ready to return after he went 2-0 with a 1.63 ERA in three starts at Triple-A Pawtucket.

"He looks like he's feeling good about himself," manager Terry Francona told the Red Sox official website. "I think as far as arm strength goes and everything, he's in pretty good shape."

Matsuzaka, meanwhile, also is eager to return because he felt his absence was a distraction to the staff and rest of the team. Boston's starting pitchers rank near the bottom of the AL with a 4.86 ERA.

"I don't want to be any further distraction," Matsuzaka told the Red Sox official website. "I think it's always my goal to try to pitch efficiently and go through as many innings as possible."

He's been effective for the most part against Baltimore, going 3-1 with a 4.78 ERA in six starts.

The Red Sox (11-12) hope Matsuzaka can help them bounce back after their three-game winning streak was snapped with a 5-4, 10-inning loss at Baltimore on Friday.

Though Orioles pitchers issued 10 walks, Boston couldn't take advantage by stranding 11 runners to secure their first losing April since 1996. J.D. Drew hit two solo homers and Dustin Pedroia added his sixth home run of the season for the Red Sox.

Though Drew is batting .197 on the season, he's 8 for 20 with three homers in his last five games against the Orioles (5-18).

Miguel Tejada had three hits Friday, including a game-tying solo homer in the eighth inning and winning two-out single in the 10th as Baltimore ended a seven-game home skid to Boston.

"It was really big, not only for myself, but I think for the whole team," said Tejada, who's batting .438 in his last eight games. "We just have to think we can win any kind of game."

Baltimore is expected to call up right-hander Brian Bergesen (0-2, 12.19) from the minors to start Saturday's contest.

Bergesen, who went 7-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 19 starts as a rookie last season, didn't last past the fifth inning in any of his three starts for the Orioles in 2010. However, he's getting a second chance after spending a little more than a week at Triple-A Norfolk to work things out.

"We need him," pitching coach Rick Kranitz told the Orioles' official website. "We need him. He's a big part of us, part of this club."

The right-hander is 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA in two starts versus the Red Sox.