4/4 Tim Wakefield vs Shaun Marcum

by Dan C.

The Red Sox are coming off an impressive 5-0 victory and 3-1 series win over the Oakland Athletics that took a week and two countries to complete but they now look to take an early lead in the AL East by taking another series against their interdivision opponents north of the border. In Friday’s match up the Sox will send veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to the mound for his first start of the 2008 season. This is Wakefield’s 14th season with the club and he’s coming off a career high 17 win year.

The Blue Jays are coming off a series vs. the New York Yankees and will hand the ball to RHP Shaun Marcum. Marcum, in his third year as a starting pitcher, logged a career high 159 innings last season and was able to win 12 games which was also a career high. One of his biggest problems is he throws too many strikes. With a low walk total, hitters know the ball is going to be around the plate and go up there hacking. He allowed 27 HR’s last year and needs to improve that stat if he hopes to stay in the Jays starting rotation for a full season.

Wakefield has historically pitched very well inside of a dome but with the knuckleball you never really know what you’re going to get. The key for both pitchers will be to try and limit the long ball while hoping their offense can put up some early runs that they can protect.