Red Sox SP Tim Wakefield, coming off a combined shutout against the Tigers, turned in an atypically brutal start at Minnesota on Sunday. Wakefield's knuckleball always seems to bite a little bit harder in the Metrodome, with the 41-year-old entering 7-3 with a 3.95 ERA in his career under the puffy white roof. But he gave up seven runs -- six earned -- on seven hits in just 2 2/3 innings Sunday, the earliest he's been knocked out of a start since June 20, 1997, at Detroit, when he lasted just 2 1/3 innings. He suffered the loss, striking out two and walking two. (Updated 05/12/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/16/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Wakefield twice lasted only two innings since that 1997 start, but one was a tuneup before the playoffs started on Sept. 28, 2003. The other was at Milwaukee on June 6, 2003, when he was hit by a pitch on the ankle in the third inning and taken out of the game. The contrast between Sunday's start and his last one kind of demonstrates the nature of the knuckleball. When it's on, Wakefield can be brilliant. When it's off, he gets tattooed. No sense playing matchups with him. He remains a worthy back-of-the-rotation Fantasy SP, and his next start is scheduled for Saturday against the Brewers. (Updated 05/12/2008).
Wakefield tossed his shortest outing in nearly five years as the visiting Red Sox lost, 9-8, to Minnesota on Sunday. (Updated 05/12/2008)
Advice
Wakefield gave up seven runs and seven hits over 2 2-3 innings in his shortest start since he lasted just two innings in a loss at Tampa Bay on Sept. 28, 2003. Wakefield is 3-2 with a 4.25 ERA in eight starts this season.
Red Sox SP Tim Wakefield, coming off a combined shutout against the Tigers, turned in an atypically brutal start at Minnesota on Sunday. Wakefield's knuckleball always seems to bite a little bit harder in the Metrodome, with the 41-year-old entering 7-3 with a 3.95 ERA in his career under the puffy white roof. But he gave up seven runs -- six earned -- on seven hits in just 2 2/3 innings Sunday, the earliest he's been knocked out of a start since June 20, 1997, at Detroit, when he lasted just 2 1/3 innings. He suffered the loss, striking out two and walking two. (Updated 05/12/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/16/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Wakefield twice lasted only two innings since that 1997 start, but one was a tuneup before the playoffs started on Sept. 28, 2003. The other was at Milwaukee on June 6, 2003, when he was hit by a pitch on the ankle in the third inning and taken out of the game. The contrast between Sunday's start and his last one kind of demonstrates the nature of the knuckleball. When it's on, Wakefield can be brilliant. When it's off, he gets tattooed. No sense playing matchups with him. He remains a worthy back-of-the-rotation Fantasy SP, and his next start is scheduled for Saturday against the Brewers. (Updated 05/12/2008).
= probable start
