After eight successful seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, John Lackey signed a five year, $82.5 million contract with the Boston Red Sox following prior to the 2010 season. On Wednesday, Lackey will start against his former team for the third time this year.
The Red Sox are the baseball betting lines favorites at -180 while the Angels are +155.
Lackey (10-7, 4.54 ERA) hasn’t played the best ball of his career this year, but he always seems to have something for when he faces his former team. In his two starts against the Angels, he went 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA while allowing a total of nine hits in 14 1/3 innings.
The Boston Red Sox (68-52, 35-23 home) have owned LA this season, winning in all eight of their matchups. They began their nine-game homestand by blanking the Angels 6-0 Monday. It was former AL MVP Dustin Pedroia’s first game back after missing 44 games.
The Los Angeles Angels (60-60, 27-33 away) is still looking to get their first victory over Boston this season. Last postseason, the Angels swept the Red Sox in the ALDS. They have lost 16 of their last 21 on the road. Monday’s loss dropped them to eight games behind AL West-leading Texas.
Scott Kazmir (8-10, 6.36 ERA) will get the start for the Angels. It has been a tough year for the left-hander, but he may be the key to getting LA back on track on the road. He has won in six of his last eight road starts. He is 6-5 with a 3.69 ERA in 14 career starts at Fenway Park.
