Hey, remember Royals baseball? Its back baby.
The Royals resume the season in Boston today, the first time they return since the ill-fated series last year during the Boston Marathon bombing in which one game was postponed due to a massive city-wide manhunt for the bombers. The Red Sox went on to have a dream season last year, winning the championship, but have had a hangover this year, stumbling out of the gate and coming into tonight's game with a 43-52 record.
Clay Buchholz, who was lights out last year, has particularly struggled. He has a 5.74 ERA, the sixth worst mark in baseball for a pitcher with at least 70 innings pitched. Buchholz has had a somewhat better FIP and has decent strikeout-to-walk numbers and was dominant his last outing before the break tossing a 12-strikeout, three-hit shutout performance against the Astros. In fact, over his last three outings, he has given up just five runs over 22 1/3 innings of work with 21 strikeouts and just one walk. Buchholz has historically dominated the Royals, with a 2.20 ERA in five career starts against them.
James Shields also comes into this game having pitched much better his last couple of outings. James has given up just two runs over his last two starts, with 18 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched. James has never fared well in Fenway Park, going 2-9 in 12 career starts there with a 5.48 ERA.
The Red Sox are pretty much out of the race at this point, and the Royals have been linked to Boston outfielder Jonny Gomes in trade rumors, so look over their roster and see if there's anything you like.
#Royals vs RHP Buchholz: Cain 8 Infante 4 Hosmer 3 Perez 2 Gordon 7 Butler DH Moose 5 Escobar 6 Aoki 9 Shields 1
— Joel Goldberg (@goldbergkc) July 18, 2014
SOX v KC: Holt RF; Pedroia 2B; Ortiz DH; Napoli 1B; Nava LF; Bogaerts 3B; Drew SS; Ross C; Bradley Jr. CF; Buchholz P.
— Sean McAdam (@Sean_McAdam) July 18, 2014
Hey, Alex is back and Lorenzo is heading lead off again! All is right with the world.
Poll
Best Boston delicacy?
This poll is closed
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12%
Boston baked beans
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57%
Clam chowder
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29%
Lobster roll