Fasten Your Seat Beats, Full Week Ahead

Have you recovered from Sunday's loss to the Twins? Really, still a little pissed/upset/second guessing? Time to move on. Big week ahead.

The Red Sox come to town tonight for a quick two game series. That's followed by a pair of games with the AL East leading Rays and then it's off to Citi Field for a three game series with the Mets.

Dice-K and Josh Beckett face off against Phil Hughes and CC Sabathia as things kick off tonight at the Stadium. Dustin Pedroia, the team's leading HR and RBI man is expected to be back in the lineup for Boston tonight after sitting out Sunday's game with a sore knee.

Before going 0-3 on Sunday, David Ortiz went 12-28 (.429) in the prior seven games with 3 HR and 11 RBI.

Beckett has lasted just 10 innings in two starts against the Yankees this year, with 14 runs allowed. For his career he's 9-6, 5.96.

When the Rays come to town on Wednesday, they will do it without veteran Pat Burrell. Pat the Bat was designated for assignment on Sunday after a year-plus of underachievement. Burrell signed a 2-yr, $16 million deal prior to the 2009 season, but never came close to living up to it.

Wednesday night will see Wade Davis do battle with A.J. Burnett. The series concludes on Thursday with James Shields facing Andy Pettitte.

Javier Vazquez opens the Mets series...or will he. Joe Girardi is hedging his bets. The Yankees bullpen needs some help and Vazquez may be a contributor during the week. It really does not make sense for Girardi to mess with Vazquez to this degree. His confidence is lagging as it is.

The bullpen will get Chan Ho Park back tonight, with Ivan Nova likely ticketed back to Scranton.