Josh Beckett Heads to Hill Looking to Guarantee at Least Split in Series

NEW YORK — Josh Beckett makes his fourth start since coming off the disabled list Sunday, and it's a big one.

Pitching in the same venue where he was hurt earlier this season, Beckett will take on the Yankees in the third of four straight games in New York.

The Yanks tied the series at a game apiece with Saturday's 5-2 win. CC Sabathia outdueled John Lackey with eight solid innings, helping to drop Boston six games out in the AL East with 51 games to play.

A.J. Burnett, who has struggled mightily against the Sox of late, goes for New York.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (63-48) at Yankees (68-41)
Sunday, August 8, 8:00 p.m.
Yankee Stadium, New York

HEAD TO HEAD

The Yankees lead the season series 6-4.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Josh Beckett (3-1, 5.70 ERA) vs. RHP A.J. Burnett (9-9, 4.93 ERA)

Beckett will be making his 12th start of the year, and four will have come against the Yankees.

The last time he faced New York was in Yankee Stadium in May. Pitching on a cold, rainy night, he ended up hurting his back slipping on a pitch and missed more than two months.

Beckett is 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA since his return from the DL. He is 9-6 with a 5.95 ERA against the Yankees in his career.

Burnett may throw a no-hitter. He may also give up eight runs in the first inning. The inconsistent pitcher has held opponents scoreless six times and without an earned run seven times — tied for second in the majors in both categories — yet has an ERA flirting with 5.00.

The enigmatic righty is 0-3 with an 8.35 ERA over his last seven starts vs. Boston.

LINEUPS

Lineups will be posted approximately four hours before first pitch.

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Boston lost Saturday for just the third time in its last nine road games.
• John Lackey has one win in his last seven starts.
• Adrian Beltre is hitting .352 (19-for-54) during a 13-game hitting streak.

Yankees

• New York leads the majors with 35 comeback wins.
• CC Sabathia is undefeated in his last 18 home starts, going 13-0 with a 2.25 ERA.
• Robinson Cano is 16-for-40 (.400) against Boston pitching this year.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• First baseman Kevin Youkilis had successful surgery Friday to repair the torn right adductor muscle on his right hand. He will miss the remainder of the season.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron is on the DL with a lower abdominal strain. He’s taking precaution with his return and is trying to rest as much as possible.
• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia (broken left foot) did some light running at Yankee Stadium on Friday. He remains roughly 7-10 days away.
• Catcher Jason Varitek (broken right foot) did some very light jogging Wednesday. He remains weeks behind Pedroia.
• Left-hander Hideki Okajima was placed on the DL on Friday with a right hamstring strain.
• Righty Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Yankees

• Left-hander Andy Pettitte threw a bullpen session Friday. The 38-year-old lefty hasn’t pitched since July 18 due to a groin injury.
• Right-handed reliever Alfredo Aceves has been on the DL since May 12 with a lower back strain.
• Left-handed reliever Damaso Marte has been on the DL since July 17 with shoulder inflammation.
• Designated hitter Nick Johnson has been on the DL since early May with a sprained wrist. He’s likely to miss the remainder of the season.

OUTLOOK

While Burnett is a wild card and nearly impossible to predict, Beckett has been pretty steady since coming back. If he can avoid some of the issues he has had in the Bronx the past few years, the Sox will be in great shape to secure at least a series split.