June 30 American League probable pitching matchup capsules

The Red Sox get Josh Beckett back on Saturday night as they try to finally make a move in the AL East. If there’s a good team for Beckett to face, it’s Seattle as he is 7-2 with a 3.03 ERA vs. the M’s in his career. Bet on Red Sox-Mariners and every game at WagerWeb.com.

Chicago White Sox at NY Yankees – White Sox RHP Jake Peavy (6-4, 2.84) vs. Yankees RHP Hiroki Kuroda (7-7, 3.40): Peavy struggled early but recovered to throw his 13th quality start on Monday against Minnesota, but it wasn’t enough for a victory as he ran into a top-notch Francisco Liriano. He surrendered a season-high 10 hits over six innings. … Kuroda will look to finish his best month in pinstripes on a positive note after going 3-1 with a 2.38 ERA in five June starts. He lasted seven innings in four of them, including a one-run outing in his most recent start, against the Indians.

LA Angels at Toronto – Angels RHP Garrett Richards (2-0, 1.63) vs. Jays RHP Henderson Alvarez (4-6, 4.36): Richards continued to stake his claim for a permanent spot in the Angels’ rotation on Sunday, giving up three runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Dodgers despite not having his best stuff. The 24-year-old has a 1.69 ERA in four starts. … Alvarez was forced to leave his last outing because of soreness in his right elbow. Despite the setback, he received a clean bill of health and will start against the Angels. Alvarez has won just one game since May 10.

Kansas City at Minnesota, Game 1 – Royals LHP Jonathan Sanchez (1-3, 6.21) vs. Twins LHP Scott Diamond (6-3, 2.67): Sanchez was not very sharp last time out, allowing six runs on nine hits and six walks over 5 1/3 innings against the Cardinals. He didn’t get a decision and still hasn’t picked up a victory since his first start of the season on April 8. … Diamond was excellent against the Reds on Sunday, as he allowed three runs on eight hits over a season-high eight innings. He also matched a season high with seven strikeouts and walked just one batter.

Kansas City at Minnesota, Game 2 – Royals RHP Luke Hochevar (5-7, 5.07) vs. Twins RHP Cole DeVries (1-1, 4.20): Hochevar was at his brilliant best on Monday, pitching a shutout over the Rays that gave him 16 2/3 scoreless innings in his last two starts, both victories. His recent change for the better is attributed to sticking basically to three core pitches. …  Because of the doubleheader, the Twins will call up De Vries to start this game. The Minnesota native went 1-4 with a 4.24 ERA in Triple-A, allowing 47 hits in 46 2/3 innings with seven walks and 37 strikeouts.

Cleveland at Baltimore – Indians RHP Josh Tomlin (3-5, 5.70) vs. Orioles LHP Dana Eveland (0-0, 3.00): Tomlin lasted only three innings in his last start, vs. the Yanks, yielding six runs on six hits. Like many pitchers vs. New York, Tomlin was hurt by the home run, with the Bombers hitting three long balls. Tomlin is 1-3 in five starts in June. … After posting a 2.57 ERA in 10 appearances as a long reliever, Eveland will make his second start of the year on Saturday. Against the Rays on May 11, he allowed three runs on five hits and six walks in six innings.

Detroit at Tampa Bay – Tigers RHP Rick Porcello (5-5, 4.71) vs. Rays RHP Jeremy Hellickson (4-3, 3.45): What happens when one of baseball’s young sinkerballers meets an offense that tends to do more with less? Surprisingly, they produce a lot of fly balls over three career meetings. Porcello won the last one with seven innings of two-run ball April 10. … Hellickson will return from the 15-day DL (right shoulder inflammation) for his first start since June 14, when he gave up eight runs in just 3 2/3 innings against the Mets. Hellickson owns a 2.94 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP in eight home starts this year.

Oakland at Tampa Bay – A’s LHP Tommy Milone (8-5, 3.83) vs. Rangers RHP Justin Grimm (1-1, 11.57): Milone has allowed just 10 hits and one earned run over his past two starts spanning 16 innings. Opponents are batting just .175 against him over that span. He most recently held the Mariners scoreless over seven innings. … Grimm beat the Astros in his first Major League start on June 16 but lost to the Tigers on Monday, when he allowed six runs in one-plus inning. He was 8-3 with a 1.87 ERA in 13 starts at Double-A Frisco before being called up to the big leagues.

Boston at Seattle – Red Sox RHP Josh Beckett (4-7, 4.14) vs. Mariners RHP Erasmo Ramirez (0-2, 4.18): Beckett is scheduled to come off the disabled list and make his first start since June 11. The right-hander had gone at least seven innings in each of his past six starts before going on the DL with right shoulder inflammation. … Using a mix of off-speed pitches to work off a lively fastball, Ramirez gave up just three hits in eight innings to the A’s on June 25, striking out a career-high 10.

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