The Red Sox go with Clay Buchholz vs the Rays today in Game 3 of the American League Division Series. Buchholz has a career 2.41 ERA in 16 starts vs the Rays. His 2.26 ERA in 9 starts at Tropicana Field is the best ERA among active starters.
At the plate over the past 5 seasons at Tropicana Field David Ortiz is just 27-for-137 (.197) but with club-highs in home runs (5), walks (38), and RBI (18). During that same span Jacoby Ellsbury has gone 37-for-138 (.268) and Dustin Pedroia is 40-for-150 (.267) with club-highs in doubles (8) and runs scored (25).
Here’s Boston’s 2003 performance vs the Rays overall and at Tropicana Field, sorted by batting average:
