Chris Davis has success against a lot of pitchers in baseball, especially this year in what’s truly been a breakout season for the Orioles slugger. Jon Lester is not one of those pitchers.
Lester will take the ball for the Red Sox in the series finale as Boston looks to sweep away the O’s, who are running out of time to make a run in the American League playoff run. The Boston left-hander has had a lot of success for his career against the Orioles, and he’s certainly had his share of success against Davis, as well.
Davis enters Thursday’s finale with just a .105 (2-for-19) career average against Lester with five strikeouts. However, Davis’ two hits against Lester, one of which was a home run, came in a Baltimore win this season on June 16. Lester did beat the Orioles on July 28, going seven scoreless innings and striking out eight. He’s 15-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 23 career starts against the Orioles, but he’s just 1-2 in his last three decisions.
Chris Tillman, who is 14-4 with a 3.66 ERA this season, will get the start for Baltimore.
The lineups for Thursday’s game can be seen below.
Boston Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Daniel Nava, 1B
Jonny Gomes, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Stephen Drew, SS
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Jon Lester, P
Baltimore Orioles
Nate McLouth, LF
Manny Machado, 3B
Adam Jones, CF
Chris Davis, 1B
Matt Wieters, C
J.J. Hardy, SS
Nick Markakis, RF
Danny Valencia, DH
Brian Roberts, 2B
Chris Tillman, P
