Another roll of the Dice...lets see what happens against Kawakami. SAY PRAYERS!
Braves: The Braves' Japanese import is on a string of three straight no-decisions, hasn't won in four starts and has been victimized by poor run support. Atlanta has scored only 22 runs for him during 13 starts and the right-hander can be a little wild early. He isn't prone to allowing home runs -- a first-inning shot by Baltimore's Adam Jones in his last start Saturday was only the second he's surrendered in his past eight starts -- but Kawakami labored in his last outing, throwing 53 of his 104 pitches in the first two innings. He needs to throw first-pitch strikes and control the count to be successful.Red Sox: The right-hander's frustrating season continued last Saturday against the Phillies, when he was pounded for seven hits and four runs over four innings. Matsuzaka has some troubling numbers. He's given up 51 hits over 31 innings, and opponents are hitting .372 against him. Matsuzaka hasn't pitched six innings in any of his seven starts. He won his only previous start against the Braves, giving up nine hits and three runs over eight innings.
Braves: The Braves' Japanese import is on a string of three straight no-decisions, hasn't won in four starts and has been victimized by poor run support. Atlanta has scored only 22 runs for him during 13 starts and the right-hander can be a little wild early. He isn't prone to allowing home runs -- a first-inning shot by Baltimore's Adam Jones in his last start Saturday was only the second he's surrendered in his past eight starts -- but Kawakami labored in his last outing, throwing 53 of his 104 pitches in the first two innings. He needs to throw first-pitch strikes and control the count to be successful.Red Sox: The right-hander's frustrating season continued last Saturday against the Phillies, when he was pounded for seven hits and four runs over four innings. Matsuzaka has some troubling numbers. He's given up 51 hits over 31 innings, and opponents are hitting .372 against him. Matsuzaka hasn't pitched six innings in any of his seven starts. He won his only previous start against the Braves, giving up nine hits and three runs over eight innings.
