Angels Turn To All-Star Saunders to Counter Beckett, BoSox

The Boston Red Sox are holding their collective breath in the hopes that overpowering staff ace Josh Beckett is back to his usual dominant self after struggling the entire month of September.

Boston lost each of Beckett’s final three regular season starts, with two of those coming against the Rays on Sept. 10 and Sept. 16.

Beckett posted an uninspiring 12-10 record in 27 starts covering 174.1 innings with 172 strikeouts, 34 walks and with a 4.03 ERA.

Despite Beckett’s ability to raise his game to another level in the postseason, Tampa Bay

L.A. Angels’ starter Joe Saunders went to the 2008 all-star game and has recorded a fantastic 17-7 in 31 starts covering 198.0 innings with 103 strikeouts, 53 walks and an ERA of 3.41.

Analysis: The Boston Red Sox say that Josh Beckett is back to his normal self, but I say that’s a bit hard to judge unless he’s playing in actual games, which he hasn’t. Either way, I think the Angels find some sort of way to get to Beckett and win this contest.

I just don’t believe that Josh Beckett is going to take the mound with his usual ‘stuff’ and will pay a steep price because of it!

MLB Free Picks: Angels 4 Red Sox 3