Game 23 Preview: Astros at Red Sox

Houston at Boston, 6:10 PM CT

TV: CSN Houston
Radio: KBME 790 AM
Red Sox SBNation Blog: Over the Monster

Pitching Match

LHP Erik Bedard (0-1 / 6.17 ERA / 1.54 WHIP) vs. RHP Ryan Dempster (0-2 / 3.38 ERA / 1.13 WHIP)

Preview

Some early season trends continued yesterday, Clay Bocholt is pretty darn good and as a result the Astros have once again failed to win a third game in a row. The Kstros returned - Buchholtz mowed down ten Houston Batters last night. Houston starting pitching woes continues, as Philip Humber couldn't get out of the fifth inning. So frankly, it's been more of the same old, same old.

Erik Bedard is once again hoping to buck the trend of lasting less then five innings. As a starter, Bedard has failed to record an out in the fifth inning in season (that maybe by choice to keep Bedard's pitch count down). Bedard pitched exactly 75 pitches in his last start against Cleveland, giving up only two earned runs over four innings. Turning our attention to the Astros' hitters that facing long-time Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster. The majority of the young Astros lineup hasn't faced Dempster. Of the few, Ronny Cedeno, who is batting .353 in 17 at-bats against Dempster, surprisingly isn't getting the call to start today. The answer lay in the fact, Houston may have found a starting lineup they will run out each day on regular basis.

As for the Red Sox starter, Dempster has been yeoman-like in his work, allowing nine earned runs over 24 innings. Happy to get out the Texas heat, Dempster hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. The crafty veteran can still anchor any back-end rotation spot in the majors. The Red Sox batters have been terrible against Bedard, now average over .250 for the past five seasons. That said, Big Papi has gotten back to normal speed quickly, going 3 for 4, scoring three times, and driving in two runs.