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Red Sox prospect Masterson set for big league debut

Apr 24, 2008 - 12:56 PM LA Angels (13-9) at Boston (15-8) 1:35 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) - With a nasty flu working its way through the clubhouse, the Boston Red Sox will send a fresh arm to the mound.

The Red Sox on Thursday will purchase the contract of prospect Justin Masterson from Class AA Portland and start the young righthander against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the rubber match of a three-game series at Fenway Park.

With injury and illness causing both Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka to be scratched from their respective starts on Tuesday and Wednesday, Boston opted not to move Tim Wakefield up a day for Thursday's game, instead electing to give Masterson his first taste of the major leagues.

A second-round draft pick in 2006, Masterson rocketed through the Boston farm system last season. He has allowed a total of two earned runs in 19 innings this season at Portland, striking out 23 batters and issuing five walks in four starts.

The 23-year-old hurler uses a heavy sinker that has helped him surrender just eight homers in 172 2/3 minor league innings.

He will try to get Boston back in the win column after the club had its six-game winning streak snapped in a 5-4 loss on Wednesday. Gary Matthews Jr. homered twice for the Angels and Casey Kotchman snapped a 4-4 tie with a solo blast in the sixth inning.

The Angels will send lefthander Joe Saunders (3-0, 2.15) to the mound on Thursday. The 26-year-old has been strong this season, lasting eight innings in three of his four starts while totaling just six walks in 29 1/3 innings.

In three starts against Boston last season, Saunders went 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA.