Felix Doubront

The Red Sox and Orioles will match up two young lefties in Tuesday night’s game at Camden Yards, as 24-year-old Felix Doubront will face off against 25-year-old Brian Matusz.

After not getting a decision in his first three starts, Doubront has become one of the most reliable arms on the Red Sox staff, earning a 4-1 record and winning his last three. Doubront has a 4.09 ERA and leads the Red Sox in strikeouts with 44, living up to the high hopes that many had for the Venezuelan entering his first season in the Red Sox rotation.

In his last start, Doubront struck out seven and only allowed one earned run in the Red Sox’ 4-1 win over the Rays. Of the six hits he allowed, only one was an extra-base hit. However, Doubront walked four hitters and hit one with a pitch in the outing.

As this is only his third season with Boston, the first two of which he made fewer than 15 appearances, Doubront has had limited experience with the Orioles lineup. However, Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, and Chris Davis all have hits off of him.

While Matusz is only one year older than Doubront, he has been in the big leagues for an extra year and has started 49 more games. Matusz was a former top-50 prospect in the league but has struggled to find consistency in his first few years in the majors.

Since his 5-2 record in 2009, Matusz’s record has worsened each year, as he recorded a 10-12 record in 2010 and a dismal 1-9 record last year. Matusz won his first decision of last year before losing his next nine major league starts, in the middle of which he was sent to the minors.

Matusz has improved from last season’s performance but has been inconsistent. The Grand Junction, Colo., native lost his first three starts of the year but has won three of his last four. Matusz has a 3-4 record and a 5.36 ERA.

Matusz has performed very well against David Ortiz, striking him out eight out of his 10 times facing the left-handed slugger. However, Matusz has struggled against another left-handed Red Sox power-hitter, as Adrian Gonzalez has three hits and two walks in his five plate appearances against Matusz.

Red Sox vs. Matusz (LHP)

David Ortiz (10 plate appearances): .100 BA/.100 OBP/.200 SLG, 1 double, 8 strikeouts

Kelly Shoppach (8): .286/.375/.714, 1 home run, 4 RBIs, 2 strikeouts

Ryan Sweeney (8): .143/.250/.143, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Dustin Pedroia (7): .286/.286/.286, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout

Adrian Gonzalez (5): 1.000/1.000/1.333, 1 double, 1 RBI, 2 walks

Marlon Byrd (3): .500/.333/1.000, 1 double, 2 RBIs

Daniel Nava (3): .000/.667/.000, 1 walk

Nick Punto (3): 1.000/.667/1.000, 2 RBIs

Cody Ross (3): .000/.000/.000, 1 strikeout

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (3): .000/.000/.000, 1 strikeout

Mike Aviles (2): .000/.000/.000, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout

Orioles vs. Doubront (LHP)

Chris Davis (3 plate appearances): .333 BA/.333 OBP/.333 SLG

Adam Jones (2): .500/.500/.500

Matt Wieters (2): .000/.500/.000, 1 strikeout, 1 walk

Robert Andino (1): .000/.000/.000

Nick Markakis (1): 1.000/1.000/1.000