That is, if the Sox can pull off a series sweep of the Orioles and get a little help from the Yankees, who host the Rays for a four-game series in the Bronx, Boston could be entering the weekend just three games out of the wild-card lead. It begins Monday when Daisuke Matsuzaka takes on Brian Matusz.
But while the pitching staff has been a question mark all season for the Sox, this week may come down to the offense as the Sox travel to New York to take on the Yankees for a three-game series after a day off on Thursday.
Although he has eight strikeouts in nine career at-bats against Matusz, David Ortiz has rocked 30 homers and has driven in 111 RBIs in his career against the O's. Big Papi is also hitting .348 this season at Yankee Stadium.
Daniel Nava, who has a pair of doubles and a pair of RBIs in his last three games, is batting .286 this season against the O's and .296 at Fenway Park. He has yet to play against the Yankees.
Rookie first baseman Lars Anderson has two hits in his last six at-bats and will be squaring off against both the O's and Yanks for the first time in his young career. Can the kid break out against a pair of AL East foes?
After blowing a save and taking the loss three outings ago, Jonathan Papelbon bounced back by striking out the side for the save in his next time out. However, in a 9-6 win to the Mariners last Tuesday, Paps allowed one run on two hits in just one inning of work. The closer has allowed just three earned runs in 38 games against the O's.
href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/3793349/">Who will be Top Dawg of the Week against the Orioles and Yankees?9px;">href="http://polldaddy.com/features-surveys/">survey software
Every Monday or Tuesday (depending on when the Red Sox series starts), NESN.com will release which Red Sox players are the Top Dawg contenders. The following Sunday, Jerry Remy will pick a Top Dawg of the Week.
But Jerry also wants to hear from you, Red Sox Nation, and find out who you think is the week’s Top Dawg for the Red Sox. Fans can vote for their Top Dawg of the Week. At the end of the week, we’ll see if Jerry's Top Dawg matches up with Red Sox Nation's Top Dawg.
