Daisuke Matsuzaka

Search for “up-and-down” in a dictionary and you’ll find Carl Pavano’s 2011 season. In his six starts this year, he’s had three quality starts, but he’s also had three starts where he allowed six or more earned runs.

Pavano gave up seven earned over four innings in his first start of the season, but bounced back by giving up just one run over his next two starts. Then he gave up another seven in 4 2/3 innings his next time out, only to respond by holding the Indians to three runs over seven in a win. Most recently, he gave up six earned on 12 hits over 5 1/3 innings in a loss to the Royals.

Pavano is 3-3 with a 6.09 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in seven career starts against the Red Sox, the team that drafted him back in 1994. He won his only start against them last season, allowing just one run over six innings.

Current Sox have torn Pavano apart, though, as they are hitting .343 against him. Of the eight Sox who have faced him, six are hitting over .300. David Ortiz leads the way, as he is 5-for-9 with a home run and three RBIs. The only player who has really struggled with Pavano is Mike Cameron, who is 1-for-15 with six strikeouts.

Opposing Pavano will be Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is 2-3 with a 4.33 ERA this season. Matsuzaka will be making his first start since April 29, when he left in the fifth inning with right elbow tightness. He came out of the bullpen in the 13th inning of Wednesday’s contest with the Angels and ended up with the loss after allowing two runs. Prior to that, he had given up just one run in his last 19 innings.

Matsuzaka is 2-1 with a 2.30 ERA in four career starts versus Minnesota, but the six current Twins who have faced him are batting .378 against him. Jason Kubel and Justin Morneau are both hitting .500 and Denard Span is 3-for-5. Michael Cuddyer has struggled, though, as he is 1-for-8 with four strikeouts.

TWINS VS. MATSUZAKA

Jason Kubel (13 career plate appearances): .500 BA/.615 OBP/.600 SLG, 1 RBI, 3 walks, 1 strikeout

Justin Morneau (12): .500/.500/.917, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 strikeouts

Michael Cuddyer (9): .125/.222/.250, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts

Matt Tolbert (7): .167/.268/.333, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

Denard Span (6): .600/.667/.600, 1 walk

Alexi Casilla (4): .250/.250/.250, 1 strikeout

Drew Butera, Luke Hughes, Trevor Plouffe, Ben Revere, Rene Rivera and Danny Valencia have never faced Matsuzaka.

RED SOX VS. PAVANO

Carl Crawford (29): .393/.379/.500, 3 RBI, 4 strikeouts

Marco Scutaro (19): .313/.389/.500, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 walks, 1 strikeout

Mike Cameron (15): .067/.067/.067, 6 strikeouts

J.D. Drew (13): .462/.462/.538, 1 strikeout

David Ortiz (12): .556/.583/1.111, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts

Jason Varitek (11): .400/.455/.500, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Dustin Pedroia (6): .167/.167/.333

Kevin Youkilis (3): .333/.333/.667

Jacoby Ellsbury, Adrian Gonzalez, Jed Lowrie, Darnell McDonald and Jarrod Saltalamacchia have never faced Pavano.