Jon Lester made his first start in just under three weeks on Monday, and he looked sharp doing it. The Red Sox ace allowed just one run on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of work against the Royals. Lester (10-4, 3.23 ERA) struck out six Kansas City batters and threw only 89 pitches as manager Terry Francona made a point not to rush him back. Overall, in his last three starts, hard-throwing southpaw is 1-0 with a 0.55 ERA and 16 strikeouts. It doesn’t appear Lester will be held back this time around, as Boston takes on the White Sox and Philip Humber Saturday.
Humber (8-6, 3.27 ERA) has not taken the mound in close to two weeks as he was skipped last time through the rotation. Unlike Lester, Humber’s reason for missing a start had nothing to do with health. Rather, it was due to poor performance. In his last two outing, the 28-year-old right-hander has allowed an even 10 runs in just 9 1/3 innings of work. Humber picked up the win in his only career start against the Red Sox, a 10-7 White Sox victory on May 31 of this season. He lasted 7 2/3 innings in that game, allowing four runs on nine hits.
That game is about all the experience Red Sox hitters have against Humber. Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis lead the team with four prior plate appearances against the White Sox starter. Catcher Jason Varitek has the team’s one long ball. Overall, Boston batters enter Saturday’s game with a .333 batting average, .357 on-base percentage, and .519 slugging percentage.
Longtime White Sox Paul Konerko and A.J.Pierzynski are a combined 11-for-23 in their careers against Lester, with eight RBIs. However, in the rest of the team’s 73 at-bats, the other White Sox batters enter Saturday’s game with just five RBIs. Carlos Quentin, Brent Morel and Brent Lilibridge are hitless against the Boston southpaw in a combined 23 plate appearances. Overall, current White Sox batters are hitting .260 against Lester, with a .390 on-base percentage and .365 slugging percentage.
Red Sox vs. Humber
Adrian Gonzalez (4): .250/.250/.500, 1 double, 2 strikeouts
Kevin Youkilis (4): .250/.250/.250
Jacoby Ellsbury (3): .000/.000/.000, 1 strikeout
David Ortiz (3): .333/.333/.333, 1 strikeouts
Dustin Pedroia (3): .000/.333/.000, 1 walk
Marco Scutaro (3): .333/.333/.333, 2 RBIs
Jason Varitek (3): .667/.667/1.667, 1 home run, 1 RBI
Carl Crawford (2): .500/.500/.500
Drew Sutton (2): .500/.500/.500, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout
Josh Reddick (1): 1.000/1.000/2.000, 1 double
Darnell McDonald, Yamaico Navarro and Jarrod Saltalamacchia have not faced the Chicago starter.
White Sox vs. Lester
Alexis Rios (34 plate appearances): .267/.353/.333, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
Paul Konerko (18): .400/.500/.800, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts
Alexei Ramirez (16): .213/.313/.286, 1 double, 2 RBIs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
Carlos Quentin (12): .000/.333/.000, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts
A.J. Pierzynski (10): .375/.333/.375, 3 RBIs, 1 strikeout
Juan Pierre (7): .400/.571/.400, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
Gordon Beckham (6): .200/.333/.200, 1 walk
Brent Morel (6): .000/.333/.000, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts
Brent Lillibridge (5): .000/.200/.000, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
Omar Vizquel (3): .500/.667/.500, 1 walk
Alejandro de Aza (2): 1.000/1.000/2.000, 1 double, 1 walk
Adam Dunn and Tyler Flowers have not faced the Chicago starter.