Clay Buchholz

Clay Buchholz, who arguably has been Boston’s best pitcher this year, will toe the rubber in the opener of a three-game set against the Angels in Anaheim.

Buchholz was disappointing in his first two months of the year before he rallied in June, July and up to this point in August, posting monthly ERAs of 2.40, 2.45 and 3.38, respectively. Buchholz was flawless in June, going 4-0, including a complete game four-hit shutout against the Orioles on June 7. Overall this season he is 11-4 with a 4.47 ERA.

The righty struggled vs. the Angels in his last outing, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing seven runs on 12 hits. It was the first time since July 14 that he allowed more than three runs. His 82 pitches was his lowest pitch count since May 6.

In eight career starts against the Angels, Buchholz is a solid 5-3 with a 4.81 ERA. He’s 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in Angel Stadium. Maicer Izturis has had the most success of any current Angel against Buchholz, going 9-for-19 in his career.

Buchholz will have a tough time getting his 12th win as he’s going up against one of the league’s best pitchers in Jered Weaver.

Weaver comes into Tuesday’s matchup with the fifth best ERA in the American League. Overall, he’s 16-3 with a 2.74 ERA. However his August has been his worst month of this season with an ERA of 4.85 and a record of 2-2. Weaver has finished seven innings in 12 of his 23 starts and the Angels won every game he started from May 18 to Aug. 6. That includes a stretch when he earned nine wins in a row from June 20 until Aug. 6.

The righty beat Boston in his last outing on Wednesday, going seven innings while only allowing two runs on seven hits. This win snapped a two-start losing streak.

The 29-year-old has struggled against Boston in his career with a 3-5 record and a 4.23 ERA over 12 starts. This season he’s 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA vs. the Sox. Six current Red Sox batters have 10-or-more at-bats vs. him, with David Ortiz having the most at 33. He’s 10-for-29 against Weaver in his career.

Red Sox vs. Weaver (RHP)

David Ortiz (33 plate appearances): .345 BA/.394 OBP/.621 SLG, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 9 RBIs, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts

Dustin Pedroia (24): .182/.250/.273, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts

James Loney (23): .348/.348/.435, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 5 strikeouts

Jacoby Ellsbury (18): .222/.222/.389, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout

Jarrod Satalamacchia (15): .250/.333/.250, 2 RBIs, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts

Scott Podsednik (14): .286/.286/.286, 3 strikeouts

Mike Aviles (9): .375/.444/.500, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

Pedro Ciriaco (3): .333/.333/.333, 1 strikeout

Ryan Lavarnway (3): .333/.333/.667, 1 double, 1 RBI

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

Angels vs. Buchholz (RHP)

Vernon Wells (29 plate appearances): .192 BA/.276 OBP/.231 SLG, 1 double, 2 RBIs, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts

Maicer Izturis (22): .474/.545/.632, 3 doubles, 5 RBIs, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts

Torii Hunter (21): .167/.286/.222, 1 double, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts

Erick Aybar (19): .158/.158/.158

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

Howie Kendrick (16): .267/.250/.533, 1 double, 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 2 strikeouts

Kendrys Morales (6): .500/.500/.500

Mike Trout (3): .000/.333/.000, 1 walk

Mark Trumbo (3): .333/.333/.333, 1 RBI, 2 strikeouts

Chris Iannetta (2): 1.000/1.000/1.000, 1 RBI

Albert Pujols (2): 1.000/1.000/1.500, 1 double

Bobby Wilson (2): .000/.000/.000