Boston Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
J.D. Drew, RF
Jason Varitek, C
Sean Casey, 1B
Julio Lugo, SS
Josh Beckett, RHP (1-1, 6.35 ERA)
New York Yankees
Johnny Damon, LF
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Álex Rodríguez, 3B
Jason Giambi, LF
Jorge Posada, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Melky Cabrera, CF
Chad Moeller, C
Mike Mussina, RHP (1-2, 4.15 ERA)
A win tonight and the Yanks will take over sole possession of 1st Place. Not too bad considering the nasty weather and rough schedule with no off days to start the season. And the team just started hitting after swinging wet newspapers for two weeks.
Tonight's pitching matchup is a rematch of Game #12 just last Saturday when Mike Mussina pitched a great ball game before making a fatal mistake to Manny Ramirez.
The Yankees have lost Mussina’s last 4 starts against the Red Sox (0-2 with a 6.94 ERA) while allowing 6 home runs and a .362 batting average.
Beckett is a lifetime 2-2, 6.86 ERA in 4 starts at Yankee Stadium while allowing 6 home runs and a .345 batting average.
Yanks career numbers vs. Beckett can be viewed here. Red Sox career numbers vs. Moose can be viewed here.
Ed Price reports that Jorge Posada is shooting to return behind the plate on Saturday. He also has another update on Harlan Chamberlain.
Obviously, Posada really needs to get healthy so he can be moved out of the DH role. Sitting Hideki Matsui (who has been the most consistent Yankee hitter since the start of the season) doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me right now and Johnny Damon had the night off last night after hitting the ball well in Tampa.