Tampa Bay Rays Series Preview - April 6, 8, 9

The Tampa Rays will begin defending their AL Championship by visiting Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox. This will be an interesting series because their were plenty of fireworks during the 2008 regular season. These 2 franchises even had a clear the bench brawl during spring training last year, and a couple during the reagular season, so you never know what could happen when these two teams meet. Tampa went 10-8 against Boston in 2008 on their way to the AL East division title, and then took 4 out of 7 against the Sox in the ALCS. No BJ Upton for the first road trip of the year will take its toll on the Rays...look for Boston to take 2 of 3 in the opening series of the year!

Pitching Matchups

Game 1
TB James Shields - 2-2 vs Boston in 2008, but 0-3 a 10.13 ERA at Fenway vs. BOS Josh Beckett - 2-1 and a 2.06 ERA vs. the Rays in 08

Game 2
TB Scott Kazmir 4-4, 3.02 ERA in 11 career starts at Fenway vs. BOS Jon Lester 4-0, 3.38 ERA lifetime vs. Rays, but lost twice in the ALCS aginst the Rays in 08

Game 3
TB Matt Garza 3-1, 3.86 ERA in 6 career starts vs. Red Sox vs. BOS Daisuke Matsuzaka 2-3, 3.75 ERA in 8 career starts vs. Rays