Three pitching matchups, three distinct story lines. There's the battle of the bullet throwers. There's the matchup of ageless wonders. Then there's the face-off between the heroic kid who beat cancer, won the World Series and pitched a no hitter ... and the fat guy who does everything he can to flush his natural ability down the toilet.
Friday: Josh Beckett versus Joba Chamberlain.
This should be a jim-dandy. Beckett hasn't been as dominant as he was last year, but he continues to put the Sox in a position to win games. Despite his ERA of 3.98 - 0.71 higher than last year - his WHIP is holding steady at about 1.15. Chamberlain, on the other hand, is making a believer out of a lot of people. While Goose Gossage thinks he belongs in the bullpen, Joba has thrown three straight quality starts, and has posted a 2.64 ERA as a starter. But he has yet to pitch 7 innings, something Beckett has done 10 times this year. EDGE: Sox.
Saturday: Tim Wakefield versus Andy Pettitte.
My Yankee fan friends (thankfully there aren't too many) like to talk about Andy Pettitte as if he was too pitchers: Bad Andy and Good Andy. Lately, he's been Good Andy, holding batters to an OPS of .529 over his last three starts. But Andy seems to have something hanging over him ... something on his shoulder, if you will. Can he match knuckles with Tim Wakefield, who is quietly having a terrific season (3.69 ERA, .218 BA allowed)? My guess is that Good Andy shows up ... Pettitte has a career record of 5-2 with an ERA of 3.70 in 14 appearances at Fenway. Pretty decent. EDGE: Yanks.
Sunday: Jon Lester versus Sidney "I'm Such A Headcase That Texas Got Rid Of Me Even Though They Have No Good Starters PS Lefties Are Batting .327 Against Me" Ponson.
Uh, yeah, right. EDGE: Sox.