Today’s Pitcher (game 162): Daisuke Matsuzaka

There aren’t any metrics to look at to make Daisuke Matsuzaka look good this season, heck, you need to go back 4 years to find such numbers. Tonight’s season-ending game marks his 11th start of the year and facing his countryman Hiroki Kuroda. It’s a study in contrasts as Kuroda is 5 years his senior, but has been a model of consistency since coming to the Dodgers back in 2008, never posting an ERA above 3.76. Somehow Yankee Stadium is the right place for Dice-K’s farewell, with no guarantees that any team will give him a shot next spring. For the Red Sox, the only fitting about ending here is that that get a chance to resurrect themselves on this same turf to start the 2013 season next April. Oh, and if they can pull out a win, there’s a chance for them to still play spoiler and give the Orioles a chance at the division crown.

Today’s game: 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium vs. the New York Yankees, NESN
Opposing pitcher: RHP Hiroki Kuroda (15-11, 3.34)
Last start: Loss at Tampa Bay, 3 innings, 9 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

Today’s Pitcher (game 161): Jon Lester

Jon Lester isn’t going to look back fondly on the 2012 season. His downs have been awful and his ups have been just as much of a mess. Last time out he was throwing a no-hitter in the 5th and three batters later he was down 3-0 having given up two monster shots. His biggest problem has been compounding his problems by getting frustrated by other teams’ successes and umpires calls and then not able to throw the way that he wants because he’s so worked up. With no chance left to knock the Yankees from the playoffs, this one is just about pride.

Today’s game: 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium vs. the New York Yankees, NESN
Opposing pitcher: RHP David Phelps (4-4, 3.34)
Last start: Loss vs Tampa Bay, 6 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts

Today’s Pitcher (game 160): Clay Buchholz

Clay Buchholz is up for his last turn of the season. It has certainly been a bumpy path, but it also seems as though in general he found his course through this bad year and has put himself in a position where he and Jon Lester are the only key members of the staff going forward. Next year is bound to be filled with new faces, but Buchholz has got his eye on the prize, and I don’t think it matters where you slot him in a staff – sure he could be a pretty great #2, but imagine how good the rotation would be if they picked up enough pieces that he could be pitching against other teams #4 and #5s. Tonight, the Red Sox set off to spoil the Yankees playoff bid after giving the Orioles a boost this weekend.

Today’s game: 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium vs. the New York Yankees, NESN
Opposing pitcher: LHP C.C. Sabathia (14-6, 3.42)
Last start: Loss vs Tampa Bay, 6 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts

Today’s Pitcher (game 159): Zach Stewart

Zach Stewart got shelled the first time the Red Sox gave him a shot, which is why his ERA with the team stands at 27.00. He’s the last vestige of Kevin Youkilis as the other part of the trade was long ago shucked, but it’s not as though anyone is hoping for a lot here… 5 innings would be a treat. Stewart is bound to knock that ERA down a bit and not give up 3 runs per inning, but I don’t know what signs of life will land him back in Boston next year.

Today’s game: 1:35 p.m. at Camden Yards vs. the Baltimore Orioles, NESN
Opposing pitcher: LHP Joe Saunders (2-3, 3.62)
Last start: Loss at Los Angeles, 3 innings, 10 hits, 9 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts

Today’s Pitcher (game 158): Felix Doubront

Felix Doubront has got one more start in his arm this year, and lately it’s been showing itself in midseason form. None of this means much for where Felix will land next year – so far he’s a piece that falls into place where it’s needed not one that you try and build around. Out of the original starting 5 in the Sox rotation, he’s really the only one that met expectations this season. While he may not have been a highlight of the season, he deserves a hand for his efforts and carrying them through to the end.

Today’s game: 7:05 p.m. at Camden Yards vs. the Baltimore Orioles, NESN
Opposing pitcher: RHP Steve Johnson (4-0, 1.62)
Last start: No decision vs Baltimore, 7 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts

Today’s Pitcher (game 157): Aaron Cook

Aaron Cook has had a long year in a Red Sox uniform, from starting at Pawtucket to getting slashed in the leg covering home on his first start in Boston, it looked like he was going to be nothing more than insurance for this rotation. Instead this will be his 18th start of the season and he’ll end up just shy of 100 innings (unless he miraculously makes it a full 7 and hits that mark). He’s been the definition of replacement player (actually a -0.8 WAR), but at least the Red Sox are paying him the rate of a reclamation project rather than the near $10 million he’d been getting from Colorado. While there’s always a place for guys like this on the organizations roster, odds are low that he’ll be back next year as Ben Cherington is sure to be able to find a few other pitchers in this mold to throw a flyer at for 2013. It would be nice to see Cook go out on a high note, even if just to see if he can become the pitcher with at least 100 innings with the fewest strikeouts in a season (right now he’s at 20 in 93).

Today’s game: 7:05 p.m. at Camden Yards vs. the Baltimore Orioles, NESN
Opposing pitcher: RHP Chris Tillman (8-2, 3.08)
Last start: No decision vs Baltimore, 5 1/3 innings, 9 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeouts

Today’s Pitcher (game 156): Jon Lester

Jon Lester is here to pitch the last Fenway game of 2012. With this having been the 100th anniversary of the park, the team has been having a series of celebrations throughout the year. With not much to root for on the field tonight, It’s nice to have the spectacle of the unveiling of the All Fenway team (and as long as Jerry Remy isn’t the top 2nd baseman, I won’t complain too much). Lester only needs to keep the scoring to a run every other inning and he’ll wind up with an ERA under 5.00 for the season. (and in regards to the picture below, what is your best caption? something about Lackey’s high-waisted fashion? or is it the fear of seeing him arm-in-arm with Will Middlebrooks)

Today’s game: 7:10 p.m. at Fenway Park vs. the Tampa Bay Rays, NESN
Opposing pitcher: RHP Alex Cobb (9-9, 4.27)
Last start: Loss vs Baltimore, 7 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts

Today’s Pitcher (game 155): Clay Buchholz

Clay Buchholz has redeemed himself already this year. The best thing to do is look at his April performance as an extended Spring Training for him to overcome his injuries. Not that those bad games would have had much effect on the course of the season, but Clay’s personal numbers do divide pretty strikingly when you look at the before and after, since before he was on a record breaking pace in regards to have the most games from the start of the year giving up 5 or more runs and afterwards he became enough of an ace that dumping Josh Beckett was mere good riddance.

Today’s game: 7:10 p.m. at Fenway Park vs. the Tampa Bay Rays, NESN
Opposing pitcher: LHP David Price (18-5, 2.58)
Last start: Win at Tampa Bay, 6 innings, 1 hits, 3 runs, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts

Today’s Pitcher (game 154): Felix Doubront

Felix Doubront gave up one hit in his last start and somehow almost blew it. He’s had the pitching ailment that has struck everyone but Aaron Cook this September – walking batters as though there were no tomorrow. He loaded the bases without giving up a hit at one point. That’s not really the way to keep contenders at bay. If all it takes to pull him through such situations is a little man love from his pitching coach, then maybe Felix does deserve a chance back in the rotation next year. Hopefully, given their spending cash in the offseason, the Red Sox don’t just give it to him and then add a few other arms to this staff that make him fight for it.

Today’s game: 1:35 p.m. at Fenway Park vs. the Baltimore Orioles, NESN
Opposing pitcher: RHP Chris Tillman (8-2 3.22)
Last start: Win at Tampa Bay, 6 innings, 1 hit, 3 runs, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts

Today’s Pitcher (game 153): Aaron Cook

Aaron Cook has 19 strikeouts on the season over 16 starts. Amazingly he has a good K/BB ratio as well since he’s only walked 16 batters, and both of those numbers aren’t too far above the dozen home runs he’s allowed during this campaign. For all he’s done this year in plugging holes in the dike, Cook doesn’t really seem like an AL East starter for a contender. Maybe he’d be a good long man… then again maybe we’ve already seen the best he can offer.

Today’s game: 1:10 p.m. at Fenway Park vs. the Baltimore Orioles, NESN
Opposing pitcher: RHP Randy Wolf (2-0, 5.23)
Last start: Win at Tampa Bay, 6 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 strikeout