The meeting between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox is a rematch of the 2013 playoffs. The red Sox faced off against Tampa Bay in 2013 in route to winning a world series. The Rays were once again shutdown during a time they looked poised to win the trophy. Now they meet back up for the first time since that series and the Rays are hoping for a little revenge at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox took out the Rays in four games. Now, both teams have seen their early struggles to being 2014 and look to get on track, preferably with a few wins in this series. Boston has failed to get more than two consecutive wins. They have been inconsistent at the plate. The team scored 15 runs against Toronto before losing to them 7-1 the next day. Tampa Bay is in the same boat having lost five of six games while sitting in last place in the American League East. They have also dropped six of their last seven games on the road which does not help their cause at Fenway.
Tampa Bay is sending Erik Bedard to the mound. The team is hoping he has bounced back after being sent to Triple-A. After injuries to Matt Moore and Alex Cobb, Bedard's improvement is necessary. The pitcher is 0-1 with a 7.45 ERA on the season. He gave up four runs in three innings to the Yankees in April. He also gave up four runs and walked five in 90 pitches. Bedard has faced Boston just once since playing for them back in 2011, giving up five runs in three innings.
John Lackey gets the start for Boston. He recently gave up six runs and 10 hits to the Yankees, but bounced back with just one run and 11 strikeouts against New York. Against the Rays, Lackey had not been great. He has an 8.84 ERA against the team and hopes to improve on Tuesday night.