Clay Buchholz

In a rematch of last Thursday’s pitching matchup, Clay Buchholz will take on the Rays’ David Price as the Red Sox try to avenge a 7-4 loss in that game.

In the Sept. 20 matchup, Buchholz (11-6, 4.16 ERA) was brilliant, throwing seven scoreless innings but receiving no decision after the bullpen lost the lead in the ninth inning. The start was the best of a recent string of solid outings for Buchholz, who has pitched at least seven innings in his last five appearances. Buchholz has not recorded a win since Aug. 16 but did post a 2.95 ERA during that five-game stretch and has not surrendered a home run in his past four outings.

Tuesday’s game will mark the sixth time this season that Buchholz will make a start against the Rays, whom he has faced more than any other opponent this season. Despite a 1-2 record, Buchholz has pitched well against Tampa Bay this season, putting up a 3.62 ERA, giving up one home run and notching 28 strikeouts compared to just eight walks. Buchholz’s one win against the Rays this season came in his first start against them, on April 14, when he gave up five earned runs in a 13-5 Red Sox win. The victory was part of a lucky month for Buchholz, who had an 8.69 ERA but still managed to go 2-1.

Even more impressive than Buchholz’s numbers against Tampa Bay his season are his stats against the Rays over his career: 5-4 with 2.52 ERA, his second-lowest mark against an AL opponent. Against the lineup he will see Tuesday night, Buchholz has been dominant, posting a .222 batting average against with a .656 OPS against. Buchholz has been particularly effective against the Rays who have the longest history with him, posting a .201 batting average against vs. Rays hitters who have at least 20 plate appearances against him.

Just like last week, Price enters Tuesday night’s game as the MLB’s leader in ERA at 2.58. However, Price, who gave up three runs over 7 1/3 innings, was outpitched in his previous outing by Buchholz. While still a solid start, Price’s performance last Thursday was just the second time since the beginning of August that he’s surrendered three or more runs. Price’s ERA has actually risen during that stretch, largely in part to his outing on Aug. 27, when he gave up six runs in four innings, his worst start of the season.

In four starts against the Red Sox this season, Price has gone 1-1 with a 3.28 ERA, with the one loss coming back on April 13 in his second start of the season. Price struggled in the start, giving up three runs and completing just three innings, his shortest outing of the season. Over his career, though, Price has flourished at Fenway, going 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA in six starts. Strangely, Price has had disappointing strikeout and walk numbers at Fenway, striking out 21 while walking 18, his worst strikeout-to-walk ratio of any stadium he’s appeared in more than once.

The current Red Sox lineup is batting .278 against Price, whose career batting average against sits at .227. A large part of that mark against Price is due to the efforts of Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury, who have OPS totals of .888 and 1.024 against him, respectively. They also have the only two home runs against him.

Orioles vs. Buchholz (RHP)

Luke Scott (36 plate appearances): .233 BA/.361 OBP/.533 SLG

Carlos Pena (33): .167/.242/.300, 1 double, 1 home run, 2 RBIs, 3 walks, 8 strikeouts

Ben Zobrist (33): .103/.212/.103, 2 RBIs, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts

Evan Longoria (30): .222/.300/.333, 3 doubles, 1 RBI, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts

B.J. Upton (26): .304/.385/.522, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts

Matthew Joyce (19): .333/.421/.400, 1 double, 2 RBIs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts

Jose Molina (16): .357/.375/.429, 1 double, 3 RBIs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts

Sean Rodriguez (12): .300/.273/.400, 1 double, 1 RBI, 3 strikeouts

Desmond Jennings (10): .286/.375/.2860, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Jeff Keppinger (9): .125/.222/.250, 1 strikeout

Elliot Johnson (5): .200/.200/.200, 3 strikeouts

Reid Brignac (4): .000/.250/.000, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts

Chris Gimenez (4): .000/.250/.000, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

Sam Fuld (2): .500/.500/1.000, 1 double, 1 RBI

Ryan Roberts (1): .000/.000/.000

Red Sox vs. Price (LHP)

Dustin Pedroia (32 plate appearances): .296 BA/.406 OBP/.481 SLG, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 2 RBIs, 5 walks, 3 strikeouts

Jacoby Ellsbury (23): .286/.348/.667, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 2 walks, 1 strikeout

Mike Aviles (17): .250/.294/.313, 1 double, 1 walk, 2 strikeout

Cody Ross (15): .167/.333/.333, 2 doubles, 1 RBI, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts

Daniel Nava (12): .000/.083/.000, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (10): .125/.300/.250, 1 double, 2 walks, 1 strikeout

Scott Podsednik (9): .375/.444/.500, 1 double, 1 walk

Danny Valencia (9): .857/.889/1.000, 1 double, 1 RBI, 2 walks, 1 strikeout

Pedro Ciriaco (6): .000/.000/.000, 3 strikeouts

Ryan Lavarnway (4): .500/.500/.750, 1 double, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Mauro Gomez (3): .333/.333/.333

Jose Iglesias (3): .667/.667/.667