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Cy Young candidates square off at Fenway

Jul 31, 2007 - 2:09 PM Baltimore (49-55) at Boston (64-41) 7:05 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) - Two of the American League's best hurlers will face off as Erik Bedard and the Baltimore Orioles travel to Fenway Park to begin a three-game set against Josh Beckett and the Boston Red Sox.

Bedard (10-4, 3.05 ERA) has a moderate lead over second-place Minnesota's Johan Santana for the most strikeouts in the league (175). Besides being so proficient with getting the opposition to swing and miss, the Baltimore ace is also tied for fifth in the majors with Oakland's Dan Haren in batting average allowed (.213).

The lefthander will seek his fifth straight win in as many tries, as he has gone 4-0 with a 0.62 ERA over his last four outings. Bedard, who is on a six-game winning streak over his last starts, will be aiming to reverse his fortunes against the Red Sox, though, as he is only 3-4 with a 5.44 ERA in nine lifetime appearances - eight starts - against Boston.

Beckett (13-4, 3.27) hopes to become the first 14-game winner in the American League one day after Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia failed in his attempt. The 2003 World Series MVP has alternated wins and losses over his last six turns after a 10-1 start to the season.

The righthander was a hard-luck loser on Wednesday in a 1-0 loss to Cleveland and fellow 13-game winner Fausto Carmona despite allowing just one run and four hits over eight frames with seven strikeouts. History does bode well for Beckett to grab win No. 14 as he is 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA in three career starts against Baltimore.