Chicago White Sox vs. Boston Red Sox: Game Preview (4/16)
Apr 5, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher John Danks (50) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
The second game of three-game series between the Chicago White Sox against the Boston Red Sox presents an interesting pitching matchup between starters John Danks and Clay Buchholz.
For the White Sox, with Danks going to the mound for them in this second game against the Red Sox, he’ll be looking for his second consecutive win, as he enters the game with an ERA of 4.15 in 13 innings pitched.
Danks, who went 6.0 innings in his win against the Cleveland Indians on April 10, allowed three earned runs on six hits and two walks in that start. He struck out four.
For the season, the White Sox left-handed pitcher has allowed six earned runs (two starts) off 11 hits and six walks. Danks had 10 strikeouts this season.
For his career against the Red Sox, Danks is 3-6 with a 5.37 ERA with 40 strikeouts. David Ortiz has three RBIs vs. Danks in 15 at-bats.
Mike Napoli has faced Danks 24 times with a .208 batting average and one RBI. Danks has held Dustin Pedroia to a batting average of .100 in 10 at-bats, with one RBI.
Xander Bogaerts is batting a 1.000 against Danks in two at-bats, tallying one RBI.
Apr 5, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (11) throws the ball against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Looking at Buchholz for the season he is 0-1 with an 6.97 ERA in two starts.
In his two starts (against the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees), Buchholz has pitched 10.1 innings, allowing eight earned runs on 20 hits and no walks. He’s struck out nine batters.
In his season opener against the Brewers on April 5, Buchholz went just 4.1 innings, allowing 13 hits.
For his last start against the Yankees, Buchholz pitched 6.0 innings, giving up two earned runs on seven hits and no walks. In New York he struck out six.
Buchholz in 35.2 IP for his career against the White Sox, the left-handed pitcher is 2-2 with a 4.29 ERA, including 24 strikeouts in that span.
This could be a good night to give Paul Konerko a start at DH. Konerko has faced Buchholz 14 times and holds a .429 batting average with one home run and three RBIs.
Tyler Flowers has faced the Red Sox starter twice, with one hit, and Alejandro De Aza has a .286 BA in seven at-bats. Also against Buchholz, Alexei Ramirez is batting .250 against him for his career. In 12 at-bats he has one RBI vs. Buchholz.
This game should be as good as last nights game, but I’m going to say both team will have more than three runs each.
I hope this game has a bit faster pace than what we watched last night, because I believe the faster the game, the better the White Sox have a chance to put the pressure on the Red Sox.
It is no secret the Red Sox like to play a slower pace of baseball, but these energetic White Sox need to speed up the game just a little, and if they can do that they will win this game, and the series after just the first two games.
What are your thoughts on this matchup? Let us know at Southside Showdown.
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