2-1 Thursday
Red Sox -1 for 3 units.
Red Sox -1/2 first 5 innings for one unit.
I like this one for many reasons:
1. Lester has not had a good season, although of late, has pitched better. In Chicago, one bad pitch and he lost his shutout and gave up 3 runs. The game before that he shut down a hot Washington team, striking out 9. His walk: K ratio has been good in the past month, with only 1 HR in his last 4 starts. Though he has not pitched well at home this year, he hasn't pitched well overall- and last year he was as good at Fenway as he was on the road. Plus he's such a competitor that expects more from himself. With Beckett on the DL, more is expected of him and he can handle it.
2. Boston's recent surge is giving the team hope. The secondary guys in the order are hitting and hitting clutch hits. They are clubbing it especially well at home. Good vibes in Fenway. Now if Pedroia, Gonzalez and Youk can begin to hit, they could go on a serious tear.
3. Jurrjens might be the opposite of Lester. He has whined down in AAA when other younger, better guys are getting called up. Even though he has pitched pretty poorly there. Self -pity and doubt, while facing a hot Boston team in a hitter's park is not a good recipe for success. Jurrjens fastball is topping at about 89-90, far below his 93-95 speeds of 2 years ago. His breaking stuff is not as sharp and neither is his command. He has had a couple of good outings in AAA, and I think the Braves are saying "Here, show us what you got, or shut up and enjoy life in the minors" .
Red Sox -1 for 3 units.
Red Sox -1/2 first 5 innings for one unit.
I like this one for many reasons:
1. Lester has not had a good season, although of late, has pitched better. In Chicago, one bad pitch and he lost his shutout and gave up 3 runs. The game before that he shut down a hot Washington team, striking out 9. His walk: K ratio has been good in the past month, with only 1 HR in his last 4 starts. Though he has not pitched well at home this year, he hasn't pitched well overall- and last year he was as good at Fenway as he was on the road. Plus he's such a competitor that expects more from himself. With Beckett on the DL, more is expected of him and he can handle it.
2. Boston's recent surge is giving the team hope. The secondary guys in the order are hitting and hitting clutch hits. They are clubbing it especially well at home. Good vibes in Fenway. Now if Pedroia, Gonzalez and Youk can begin to hit, they could go on a serious tear.
3. Jurrjens might be the opposite of Lester. He has whined down in AAA when other younger, better guys are getting called up. Even though he has pitched pretty poorly there. Self -pity and doubt, while facing a hot Boston team in a hitter's park is not a good recipe for success. Jurrjens fastball is topping at about 89-90, far below his 93-95 speeds of 2 years ago. His breaking stuff is not as sharp and neither is his command. He has had a couple of good outings in AAA, and I think the Braves are saying "Here, show us what you got, or shut up and enjoy life in the minors" .