Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-3, 8.82) vs. 
Rick Porcello (6-3, 3.48), 7:05 p.m. EST
Following a 4-3 trip through Kansas City and Baltimore, the Tigers return home for a six-game homestand against two AL playoff contenders. First up, the Boston Red Sox, who lost two of three in Toronto this past weekend, and are 3-4 on their current road trip.
Daisuke Matsuzaka has lost his two starts since recovering from a strained shoulder that put him on the DL. And in only one of his four overall starts has he allowed fewer than four runs. Dice-K's biggest problem has apparently been his control, as he threw four wild pitches in his last outing, and needed 102 pitches to get through five innings. In four starts against the Tigers, Matsuzaka has a 3-1 record and 2.81 ERA. He's 1-1 with a 6.30 ERA at Comerica Park, however.
How good has Rick Porcello been? John Lowe put him in the same sentence with Greg Maddux in today's Freep. The two of them are the only pitchers over the past 10 years to go five straight starts without exceeding 95 pitches. Porcello won every one of those games too, posting a 1.50 ERA for the month of May. Is it worth mentioning, however, that two of the rookie's three losses have come against AL East teams?
Clete Thomas stays in the leadoff spot, starting in right field tonight. Josh Anderson gets the nod in left. And Ramon Santiago will get a chance to break out of his 2-for-17 slump, as tonight's starter at shortstop. Here are your starting lineups:
Over the Monster has your SB Nation opposing view for this three-game series.