Tonight's pitchers: Matusz vs. Lackey

LHP Brian Matusz (1-1, 7.04) tonight makes his 3rd start of the season, his 1st at home and the 1st of his career vs. the Angels. Matusz's first two starts: Aug 4 at Det: 5IP, 6H, 1R-ER, 3B, 5K, 99 pitches Aug 9 at Tor: 2 2/3IP, 7H, 5R-ER, 2B, 1K, 62 pitches Matsuz has faced almost all right-handed batters so far and the righty hitters are batting .406 (13 for 32) against him while lefties are at .000 (0 for 2). Opponents are hitting .200 off him (2 for 10) when batting with runners in scoring position. Earlier this year, in 19 starts between Frederick and Bowie, the 22-year-old Matusz went 11-2, 1.91 and fanned 121 in 113 innings. He began the year at Frederick, going 4-2, 2.16 in 11 starts. Matusz made his first Double-A start on June 17th and pitched even better with Bowie than he had at Frederick. In eight Baysox starts, he went 7-0, 1.55. In 46 1/3 innings he allowed 31 hits, including two homers. He walked 11 and struck out 46. With Bowie, right-handed batters hit .224 off Matusz while lefties hit only .077. He gave up an average of just .171 when pitching with runners in scoring position. Matusz was the Birds' first-round pick last year, the 4th overall pick. He gave up one run or less in seven of eight Bowie starts. RHP John Lackey (7-5, 3.88) tonight makes his 18th start of the year, his 10th on the road and the 12th of his career vs. Baltimore. Right-handed batters hit .222 off him and lefties bat .281. The Angels are 9-8 when he starts. Lackey, 1st half: 4-4, 4.93, 12 starts Lackey, 2nd half: 3-1, 1.88, 5 starts The 30-year-old was an All-Star in 2007. In nine road starts this year, he is 3-1, 3.93. Lackey has given up just two runs and a batting average against of only .185 in the first innings of his starts on the season. Lackey vs. Baltimore: 2009: 1-0, 2.25, one start (8IP, 4H, 2R-ER, 7K on July 2nd) Career: 7-3, 3.33 in 11 starts (75 2/3IP, 75H, 17B, 60K Career at Camden Yards: 3-3, 4.14 in six starts