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New York confidential

*Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (thigh) will miss the remainder of this series. Manager Joe Girardi said Jeter would take ground balls today, but it's unlikely he'll play on Sunday. And, there's no timetable on his return. Girardi said his captain his willing to play hurt -- as he's done so many times befroe -- but they don't want to rush him.

*Catcher Jorge Posada (arm) will serve as the DH again today. He was able to play long toss on Friday, but did not throw today.

*Red Sox slugger David Ortiz continues to struggle at the plate, but Girardi knows it's only a matter of time before Papi launches one out. "We still approach him very carefully," said the manager.

*Josh Beckett will start for the Red Sox and face the Yankees' Mike Mussina. Girardi spoke highly of the Sox' right-hander today. "He's got great stuff," he said. "He knows how to pitch. He's a pure power guy and when he's on he's tough to beat."

*Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui has been given today off.

*Alex Rodriguez's wife, Cynthia, is expecting the couple's second child next week. A-Rod currently has 520 career home runs. His next one will tie him with Ted Williams and Willie McCovey for 15th on the all-time list.

Posted by Joe McDonald  at 2:43 PM | Permalink

Pregame Here and There

-- Alex Cora, who has been hampered by a sore right elbow, was given clearance to hit off a tee today. But, while Cora says he is feeling better and is "chomping at the bit" to start throwing again, according to manager Terry Francona, the team's medical staff has not cleared the utility infielder to begin playing catch.

-- Struggling David Ortiz is healthy, says Francona, but his offensive woes are due more to problems with movement in his legs and head as the ball approaches the plate than issues with his surgically repaired right knee. Francona didn't think Ortiz was at the stage mentally where he needed to give the designated hitter a day off to regroup.

-- J.D. Drew's continued hot streak -- he hit his third homer on Friday night; last year his third homer came on June 8 -- has not prompted Francona to move Drew up from sixth to fifth in the Red Sox batting order to replace the disabled Mike Lowell (sprained thumb). Francona is using Kevin Youkilis in the number five hole. Youkilis went 0 for 3 Friday night, but hit the ball hard in the air to right field in each at-bat.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 1:31 PM | Permalink

Lowell Update

Third baseman Mike Lowell, who suffered a sprained left thumb on Wednesday and was placed on the disabled list the next day, said this morning the condition of his thumb is "status quo."

He said the swelling had gone down a decent amount the day after he suffered the injury, but that today his thumb is swollen as much as it was yesterday. He has no idea of when he'll be able to take some swings.

In the meantime, his treatment continues. Lowell said he iced the thumb the first two days, and today he underwent laser treatment as well as "contrast" therapy -- alternating ice and heat for a minute a piece over a 10-minute period of time. He will have two of those treatments today.

Manager Terry Francona, though, said that the area of Lowell's injury is a little less tender and that doctors may be clearing him to throw soon. Francona said Lowell will go with the Sox on their trip to Cleveland and New York, which begins Monday and ends Thursday, so he can resume some baseball activities.

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 1:24 PM | Permalink

Starting Lineups, April 12

RED SOX

Ellsbury cf
Pedroia 2b
Ortiz dh
Ramirez lf
Youkilis 3b
Drew rf
Varitek c
Casey 1b
Lugo ss

Beckett p

YANKEES

Damon lf
Cabrera cf
Abreu rf
Rodriguez 3b
Giambi 1b
Posada dh
Cano 2b
Molina c
Gonzalez ss

Mussina p

-- Steven Krasner

Posted by Steven Krasner  at 1:21 PM | Permalink

Red Sox-Yankees key stats for Saturday

-With a win today or tomorrow, the Yankees will have taken five consecutive series from the Red Sox.
-New York has won seven of its last eight games against Boston; Josh Beckett is the only Red Sox pitcher to pick up a win over that stretch.
-Despite his excellent career stats against the Red Sox, since 2005 Mike Mussina is 2-3 with a 7.08 E.R.A. vs. Boston.
-David Ortiz is 0 for his last 13 and 3 for 39 on the season.

Yankees vs. Josh Beckett
-Jorge Posada, 6 for 15 (.400), 2B, BB
-Robinson Cano, 7 for 18 (.389), 2 2B, HR, 4 BB
-Jason Giambi, 5 for 15 (.333), 2 HR, 5 BB
-Melky Cabrera, 7 for 22 (.318), 2B, BB
-Derek Jeter, 7 for 23 (.304), 2B, HR, BB
-Alex Rodriguez, 6 for 22 (.273), 2 2B, HR, 4 BB
-Johnny Damon, 5 for 21 (.238), 3 2B, 2 BB
-Hideki Matsui, 3 for 14 (.214), 3B, BB
-Bobby Abreu, 9 for 50 (.180), 2 2B, 2 HR, 18 BB
-Morgan Ensberg, 1 for 6 (.167), 3B
-Jose Molina, 0 for 3
-Wilson Betemit, 0 for 5, BB
-Beckett is 4-3 with a 6.56 E.R.A. in eight career regular-season starts against New York.

Red Sox vs. Mike Mussina
-Sean Casey, 3 for 8 (.375), HR
-Dustin Pedroia, 3 for 8 (.375)
-Coco Crisp, 8 for 24 (.333), 3 2B
-Julio Lugo, 8 for 30 (.267), 2 2B, HR
-Kevin Youkilis, 4 for 15 (.267), 2B, BB
-David Ortiz, 14 for 54 (.259), 3 HR, 6 BB
-Manny Ramirez, 24 for 95 (.253), 5 2B, 3B, 6 HR, 8 BB
-Jason Varitek, 8 for 60 (.133), HR, 4 BB
-Alex Cora, 0 for 2
-J.D. Drew, 0 for 7
-Mussina is 19-15 with a 3.66 E.R.A. in 52 career regular-season starts against Boston.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 8:58 AM to Projo Sox Streakers | Permalink