The Big Series

Yanks/Sox. 5 games. Yanks lead the AL East by 1 1/2 games, and I can't help but feel good after the beating the evil empire took yesterday at the hands of the mediocre Orioles. So here's my quick look at the series before I head off to work.

Game 1: Jason Johnson vs. Chien-Ming Wang. Johnson is 3-11 with an ERA over 6. Wang
is 13-5 with a 3.84 ERA. I think Wang has been possibly the most consistent Yankee starter, and Jason Johnson is a castoff of the Cleveland Indians. Wang has struggled a bit, but this pick is a no-brainer, advantage Yankees.

Game 2: Jon Lester vs. Sidney Ponson. Lester is 6-2 with a 4.09 ERA. Ponson is 4-5 with a 5.82. I'm confident giving the nod to Lester here.

Game 3 Josh Beckett vs. Randy Johnson. 2 former World Series Yankee killers match up. Both guys seem to be head cases. Beckett is 13-7 with an ERA og 5.2 Randy is 13-9 with a 4.92 ERA. Toss-up.

Game 4 Curt Schilling vs. Mike Mussina. The premier pitching match-up of the series, Sunday night's ESPN game of the week. Schilling is 14-5 with a 3.83 ERA. Mussina is 13-5 with a 3.54 ERA. However, big game, at Fenway, big stage, Schilling vs. Yanks. I pick Schilling on this one. both pitchers have struggled a bit of late, but I expect a well pitched game on both sides.

Game 5 David Wells vs. Cory Lidle Match-up of the two #5 starters. Wells is 2-2 with a 6.06 ERA. Lidle is 9-9 with a 4.64. Wells has been coming on and Lidle has struggled a bit, but I am still considering this a toss up.

So in conclusion, I see 2 Sox wins, 1 Yankee win, and 2 toss ups. Split the toss ups and I see a 3-2 Red Sox win of the series. This would put them within 1/2 game of the Yankees at the end of Monday, which I will gladly sign on for.