Tim Wakefield

After Clay Buchholz was scratched from his start Sunday with a stomach illness, it will be Tim Wakefield who toes the rubber against Seattle for his first start of the season. Wakefield has made seven appearances out of the bullpen so far, notching a 5.56 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and no record in 11 1/3 innings.

Wakefield has struggled with the Mariners in his career. He is 4-10 with a 4.18 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 27 career outings, including 17 starts. Wakefield lost his only start against Seattle last season, giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Current Mariners are hitting .272 against Wakefield. Jack Cust has done the most damage, as he is hitting .440 with four extra-base hits and five RBIs in 25 at-bats. Adam Kennedy, Miguel Olivo and Milton Bradley all have a home run and three RBIs off Wakefield.

If Wakefield’s poor record against Seattle wasn’t enough of a reason for Sox fans to be concerned, there’s also the fact that Felix Hernandez will be on the mound for the Mariners. The reigning American League Cy Young winner is 3-2 with a 3.32 ERA this season. He has won each of his last two starts against Oakland and Detroit, respectively, allowing just two earned runs on eight hits and five walks over 13 2/3 innings.

Moreover, Hernandez is 4-1 with a 2.91 ERA in eight career starts against Boston. He won his only start against the Sox last season, allowing just one earned run on four hits and a walk while striking out nine over 7 1/3 innings.

Current Red Sox are hitting .259 against Hernandez. J.D. Drew leads the way with a .391 average and two home runs in 23 at-bats. Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz and Mike Cameron all have a homer off Hernandez, too.

Wakefield vs. Mariners

Ichiro Suzuki (34 career plate appearances): .250 BA/.294 OBP/.250 SLG, 1 RBI, 2 walks, 1 strikeout

Adam Kennedy (30): .241/.267/.379, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts

Jack Cust (28): .440/.500/.600, 5 RBI, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts

Chone Figgins (27): .261/.346/.304, 2 RBI, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts

Miguel Olivo (15): .308/.400/.615, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts

Milton Bradley (14): .143/.143/.357, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 strikeouts

Ryan Langerhans (4): .500/.500/1.000

Jack Wilson (3): .000/.000/.000, 1 strikeout

Luis Rodriguez (2): .000/.000/.000

Brendan Ryan (2): .000/.000/.000, 1 strikeout

Chris Gimenez (1): .000/.000/.000, 1 strikeout

Michael Saunders and Justin Smoak have never faced Wakefield.

Hernandez vs. Red Sox

Adrian Gonzalez (29): .296/.345/.481, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

J.D. Drew (27): .391/.481/.652, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts

Marco Scutaro (23): .273/.304/.318, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

Carl Crawford (22): .286/.318/.333, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

Dustin Pedroia (21): .211/.286/.263, 1 RBI, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

David Ortiz (19): .250/.368/.438, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts

Kevin Youkilis (17): .250/.294/.250, 3 RBI, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

Jason Varitek (16): .133/.188/.133, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (14): .231/.286/.308, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts

Jacoby Ellsbury (11): .100/.182/.100, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Mike Cameron (10): .333/.400/.667, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Jed Lowrie (6): .167/.167/.167, 2 strikeouts

Darnell McDonald has never faced Hernandez.