Josh Beckett is having one of the best turnaround seasons in MLB history. After a 5.78 ERA last season, his current ERA stands at 2.12, a drop of 3.66 runs. If he continues to pitch this well in the second half, he would be on pace for one of the best comebacks in over 100 years.
He'll take the mound Friday night for the Red Sox in the second game of a four-game series with Baltimore. Lefty Zach Britton, in his first season in the majors, makes his first start at Fenway Park.
Britton, like Thursday's pitcher Jake Arrieta, makes his second career start against the Red Sox. He threw six innings against Boston on April 26, scattering five hits and allowing just one run to earn the win. Dustin Pedroia scored the game's lone run off a sacrifice fly from Kevin Youkilis.
Thursday's 10-4 win saw the Red Sox bats continue to stay hot, scoring 19 runs in the last three games. However, Josh Reddick, who has dominated left-handed pitching by hitting .727 (8-for-11), will not be in the lineup Friday. Darnell McDonald and Yamaico Navarro flank Jacoby Ellsbury in the outfield.
Derrek Lee has had great success against Beckett in the nine plate appearances he's had. Lee is 5-for-9 with two home runs and two RBI. He'll play first and bat sixth Friday.
Check out the lineups for both teams below.
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Jason Varitek, C
Marco Scutaro, SS
Darnell McDonald, RF
Yamaico Navarro, LF
Orioles
J.J. Hardy, SS
Nick Markakis, RF
Adam Jones, CF
Vladimir Guerrero, DH
Matt Wieters, C
Derrek Lee, 1B
Mark Reynolds, 3B
Felix Pie, LF
Robert Andino, 2B
