The Boston Red Sox appear to be back on the right path after the team put together a 10-game losing streak, the worst in 20 years. The beat the Atlanta Braves twice at Turner Field and look to carry that momentum back to Fenway Park as the two teams meet up again for two more interleague games. Boston benefited from good pitching and will now see if Jake Peavy can keep up the trend.
Both Jon Lester and John Lackey put together solid starts against the Braves. Lester tossed a three-run, six innings performance while Lackey stuck out nine in six innings as both pitchers earned the win. During the team's 10-game losing streak, the starting pitching rotation had a combined ERA of 6.18 and now they might be on the right path.
Peavy has pressure to maintain momentum. He was responsible for two of the losses in the streak/ In his past three games, he has a 8.82 ERA. He gave up five runs in six innings against Tampa Bay. However, he some positive success against the Braves with a 3.86 ERA in eight career starts. He won his last two games against the National League team while pitching for the Chicago White Sox.
The Braves need to avoid a losing streak of their own. They had won six of eight games before losing two to the Red Sox. Mike Minor takes the mound after giving up three runs to the Colorado Rockies. In four of five starts this season he has allowed three runs or fewer which is great, but he is getting no run support which is making wins hard to come by.
The Braves are riding high on the success of Justin Upton. He is batting .447 with four home runs in the past 11 games. He is 6 for 9 against Peavy in his career. The Braves could be without star shortstop Andrelton Simmons who sat out Wednesday after spraining his ankle.