Clay Buchholz

Wednesday’s game between the Red Sox and Angels is almost surely going to be a pitcher’s duel, as both teams will be sending their respective aces to the mound. Boston will look for Clay Buchholz to continue his great play as of late and hold off Cy Young Award contender Jered Weaver.

Buchholz (11-3, 4.19 ERA) has eaten up a lot of innings in his previous six starts, lasting at least seven innings in each of those performances. Over that span, the right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA and 27 strikeouts.

The beginning of the season was a rocky one for the Red Sox ace, but he has only gotten better as the season has continued. Buchholz had a 9.09 ERA after his first six starts of the year, but has brought that average down to a season-low of 4.19 entering Wednesday’s start.

In seven career starts against the Angels, Buchholz is 5-2 with a 3.95 ERA. However, the sixth-year starter is yet to face the Angels this season.

Going up against Buchholz will be Weaver (15-3, 2.74 ERA), who has been everything the Angels could have hoped for this season. However, his excellent performance took a serious dip last start.

In the outing, Weaver was crushed by the Rays, allowing nine runs on eight hits and two walks through only three innings. The outing, in which he only lasted 58 pitches, raised his ERA from 2.22 to 2.74.

However, before that start Weaver had been excellent this season. In a span between June 20 and Aug. 6, Weaver won all nine of his starts and had a 1.60 ERA with 44 strikeouts. Last year’s Cy Young Award runner-up capped off that span with a complete-game shutout over the Athletics.

Weaver has not fared well in his six career starts at Fenway Park, going 1-3 with a 7.16 ERA. Weaver has not pitched against the Red Sox yet this season.

Angels vs. Buchholz (RHP)

Vernon Wells (28 plate appearances): .200 BA/.286 OBP/.240 SLG, 1 double, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts

Maicer Izturis (19): .375/.474/.563, 3 doubles, 4 RBIs, 2 strikeouts

Alberto Callaspo (18): .235/.278/.235, 1 RBI, 1 walk

Torii Hunter (18): .200/.333/.267, 1 double, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts

Erick Aybar (16): .063/.063/.063

Howie Kendrick (13): .167/.154/.167, 2 RBIs, 2 strikeouts

Peter Bourjos (6): .167/.167/.167, 3 strikeouts

Kendrys Morales (3): 1.000/1.000/1.000

Bobby Wilson (2): .000/.000/.000, 1 strikeout

Red Sox vs. Weaver (RHP)

Dustin Pedroia (21 plate appearances ): .211 BA/.286 OBP/.316 SLG, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 5 strikeouts

Danny Valencia (15): .200/.200/.600, 2 home runs, 2 RBIs, 4 strikeouts

Jacoby Ellsbury (14): .286/.286/.500, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (12): .222/.333/.222, 2 RBIs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts

Scott Podsednik (10): .100/.100/.100, 3 strikeouts

Nick Punto (10): .111/.100/.111, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout

Adrian Gonzalez (7): .429/.429/.571, 1 double

Mike Aviles (6): .333/.333/.333, 2 strikeouts