The O’s are coming off of a series loss against the Oakland Athletics and will resume play in the AL East for a weekend against the Boston Red Sox. Boston’s hot of late, as they sit in second place in the division, just a game and a half behind the Yankees. The O’s sit in the division cellar at 30 games under .500 with a 13th consecutive losing season well underway.

Friday, July 2, 7:10 pm
Red Sox – Tim Wakefield (2-6, 5.21 ERA)
Orioles – Brad Bergesen (3-4, 6.83 ERA)

Tim Wakefield is in the rotation as a substitute for a banged up Red Sox squad that is dealing with injuries to both Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz. Wakefield dropped his last decision to the San Francisco Giants, allowing four runs (three earned) in seven innings. He also hasn’t pitched very well against the Orioles in 2010 so far, as Baltimore has saddled Wakefield with a 7.00 ERA in 9.0 total innings pitched. His opponent, Bergesen, has been mediocre at best for the O’s and has even been optioned to Triple-A a couple times. His latest outing came against the Washington Nationals on Saturday and he lasted just four innings surrendering five runs. Bergesen has a win against Boston this season, but it wasn’t well deserved as he only went five innings and gave up four runs.

Saturday, July 3, 7:10 pm
Red Sox – Jon Lester (9-3, 2.96)
Orioles – Jeremy Guthrie (3-9, 4.30)

Jon Lester has totally dominated the O’s in his career and that hasn’t slowed down this season as he hasn’t allowed a run in 12.0 innings against them this season. He is coming off of a complete game effort in which he allowed just one run to the Giants. Orioles’ starter Jeremy Guthrie will take the ball and try to continue his moderate success against the Red Sox this season. Against Boston, Guthrie has gone 13.1 innings, giving up just five runs, which gives him a 3.38 ERA this season.

Sunday, July 4, 1:30 pm
Red Sox – John Lackey (9-3, 4.46)
Orioles – Brian Matusz (2-9, 4.90)

John Lackey will see the O’s for the fourth time this season. His previous three starts have seen him go an average of seven innings. He has a 3.00 ERA in his previous three starts against the Birds this season. Brian Matusz, a Rookie of the Year candidate, has two starts against the Sox this season. He has pitched well against Boston, allowing only five runs in 11.2 innings. In his last start against the A’s, Matusz went 6.1 innings, allowing three earned runs, but still got the loss.