Like Lackey, Santana had a solid season but struggled in his final start - giving 8 runs on 10 hits (2 homers) through 5+ innings in an 8-4 loss to the Rangers.
Lackey didn't exactly implode again on Wednesday and Santana probably won't either, but the pressure will be on the young righty in what some are calling a must win game for the Halos.
Sanatana was famous for his home/away splits in 2007, posting a 1-10, 8.38 ERA line on the road, while pitching well in LA: 6-4, 3.27 ERA. He managed to exercise his road demons this year
and was actually pretty nasty away from home: 11-2, 3.02 ERA... but his home numbers regressed: 5-5, 4.03 ERA... and that good for the Red Sox.The long ball is partially to blame for Santana's troubles at home. For whatever reason, he's given up 15 ding dongs in 102 innings (.147) at home, while surrendering 8 homers in 116 innings (.069) on the road. David Ortiz is the only Boston player with a homer against Sanatana, but it comes with a .556 BA, two doubles and three RBI... This may the night Big Papi flaunts the postseason magic we've come to expect from him.
Mark Kotsay is 7-18 (.389) lifetime against Sanatana, it with Tito hinting at the idea of resting Mike Lowell, we may see him get the start and bump Youk over to 3B.
The Red Sox did not face Sanatana this year, so it's tough to predict what will happen... and there's also that whole "the regular season means nothing thing" - just look at my predictions for Jon Lester...
Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-3, 2.90 ERA)
Howie Kendrick, the goat of Game 1 in some Angels' fans minds, has the right idea in regards to facing Matsuzaka:"He has to throw you a strike, and being patient and letting him work a little bit is going to be huge for us,” Angels infielder Howie Kendrick said.
Dice-K has failed to complete six innings in 14 of his 29 starts and lead the AL with 94 walks. He pitched fewer than six innings in each of his four postseason starts last year. You'd think the Angels’ typically aggressive approach at the plate would help, but it hasn’t in the past. In two career starts against Los Angeles - one on July 28 and the other in last year’s division series - he has allowed nine runs and 14 hits in 9 2-3 innings, going 0-1.
But Daisuke knows what he's doing and despite the walks and short outings he earned the victory in 18 of his 29 starts this year and the Red Sox won 23 of those 29 games. Dice-K also seems to buckle down when he's on the road. His WHIP is lower: 1.16 v 1.46... his ERA is lower 2.37 v 3.34... and batters are hitting just .178 against this away from Fenway.
Bottom Line: The pressure is on the Angels to recover with a split before they head to Boston... advantage Red Sox.
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