Red Sox v Rangers: Can Dice-K keep the Sox rolling?

Diasuke Matsuzaka is 13-2 with a 2.90 ERA. Since giving up 7 runs in one inning to the Cardinals back on June 21st, Dice-K has allowed an average of 1.5 RPG while posting a 2.20 ERA. If you take away the 6 runs he gave up in his only loss since the break, his ERA falls to a ridiculous 1.22.
The Texas Rangers will be looking to change all that as they attepmt to win at leat one game this year against the Red Sox, but Diasuke is 2-0 in two starts against Texas in his career.

What the Rangers do have going for them is the 6.97 ERA they've handed Matsuzaka over those two starts. Dice-K earned the victory, despite allowing 3 runs in 5.1 innings back on April 18th... he was worse in 2007 when he allowed 5 runs and two homers in Texas on May 25 - but he got the win anyway thanks to the offense and the bullpen.

Matsuzaka gave the Sox eight strong innings in his last start in Chicago... Tito will be hoping for a similar outing tonight, especially with the bullpen still recovering.

Texas will counter with Tommy Hunter. Hunter will be making just his third start of the season and hasn't lasted more than 5 innings in either outing. He's allowed 16 hits and 11 runs over his short time in the majors, and with the Sox offense clicking, you can expect more of the same tonight.

Bottom Line: The Sox should earn the sweep tonight. There ain't much more to say.

Who to Watch: Marlon Byrd, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and Ian Kinsler are all red hot right now... the Sox haven't seen much of Hunter and the Rangers have seen very little of Daisuke... Ellsbury should be in the lineup again, after missing some time with a sore tooshy... He's batting .393 in August.