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Matsuzaka counters Sabathia when Red Sox face Indians

Jul 24, 2007 - 3:30 PM Boston (60-39) at Cleveland (58-41) 7:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - In a battle of two starters who haven't exactly been at the top of their respective games recently, Daisuke Matsuzaka faces off against C.C. Sabathia when the Boston Red Sox visit the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.

Lefthander Jon Lester, making his way back from non-Hodgkins lymphoma, gave the Red Sox pitching staff a boost on Monday, allowing two runs in six innings of a 6-2 victory.

Lester's win makes four in a row for Boston, which seems to be working its way out of an offensive funk that saw them drop eight of 11 games before the current winning streak.

Matsuzaka (11-7, 3.99 ERA) will attempt to carry the emotional lift into Tuesday's contest. The Japanese righthander is just 1-2 with a 7.31 ERA over his last three starts, allowing hitters a .318 batting average.

That down stretch comes on the heels of a six-start run that saw him accumulate a 1.29 ERA and .174 batting average against. Lack of command has been an issue recently, as Matsuzaka was victimized by six walks in his last start.

Sabathia (13-4, 3.81) has had similar struggles of late, going 1-2 with an 8.47 ERA in his last three outings, allowing opponents a .390 average. The burly lefthander has never been strong against the Red Sox, owning a 2-3 career mark with a 4.35 ERA in six career starts.

In spite of his struggles, Sabathia ranks second in the American League in walks per nine innings at 1.29. That control should serve him well against a Boston lineup that ranks first in the majors in walks this season.