Josh Beckett

The Red Sox should be happy to see Jeremy Guthrie on the mound for the Orioles Wednesday night. The veteran right-hander is just 1-7 in his career against Boston and current Sox hitters are batting .312 against him.

Of the eight Sox who have at least 20 at-bats against Guthrie, seven of them are hitting .296 or better. The only one who isn’t is Jason Varitek (.227 in 22 ABs). Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury are both hitting .366 or better, and Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz each have three home runs off Guthrie.

Guthrie is just 1-3 so far this season, but he has a solid 3.12 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He has gone six or more innings and given up two or fewer runs in three of his four starts. Most recently, he went seven innings and gave up two runs on seven hits in a tough-luck loss to the Twins.

For the Red Sox, Josh Beckett (2-1, 1.93 ERA) looks to continue his string of great starts. In his last three outings, he has given up just three runs on eight hits and five walks while striking out 24 in 23 innings.

Beckett has had success against Baltimore in his career, registering a 6-3 record and 3.53 ERA in 14 starts. Current Orioles, however, are hitting .300 against the righty. Vladimir Guerrero, Nick Markakis, Brian Roberts and Luke Scott all have at least a .298 average, at least one homer and at least four RBIs against Beckett. Derrek Lee has a pair of solo shots in just six career at-bats against him.

Red Sox vs. Guthrie

Carl Crawford (42): .366/.381/.488, 3 RBI, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

Kevin Youkilis (42): .297/.381/.622, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5 walks, 7 strikeouts

Dustin Pedroia (38): .303/.395/.364, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts

David Ortiz (37): .323/.405/.774, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts

J.D. Drew (33): .296/.394/.593, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts

Jacoby Ellsbury (29): .393/.414/.571, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

Marco Scutaro (28): .296/.321/.333, 2 RBI, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts

Jason Varitek (24): .227/.292/.409, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts

Mike Cameron (5): .000/.000/.000, 3 strikeouts

Adrian Gonzalez (3): .333/.333/.333

Jed Lowrie (3): .000/.000/.000, 1 strikeout

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (3): .667/.667/.667, 1 strikeout

Darnell McDonald has never faced Guthrie.

Orioles vs. Beckett

Vladimir Guerrero (56 career plate appearances): .298 BA/.411 OBP/.489 SLG, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 7 walks, 7 strikeouts

Nick Markakis (44): .308/.386/.462, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 5 walks, 11 strikeouts

Brian Roberts (43): .300/.349/.500, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts

Luke Scott (25): .450/.560/.750, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts

Adam Jones (24): .261/.292/.304, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts

Cesar Izturis (19): .176/.263/.294, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts

Felix Pie (9): .111/.111/.111, 1 RBI, 3 strikeouts

Derrek Lee (6): .500/.500/1.667, 2 HR, 2 RBI

Matt Wieters (6): .333/.333/.333, 1 strikeout

Robert Andino (3): .333/.333/.333, 1 strikeout

Mark Reynolds (3): .333/.333/.333, 2 strikeouts

Jake Fox has never faced Beckett.