Tonight's pitchers: Hernandez vs. Lester

RHP David Hernandez (4-8, 5.40) tonight will make his 17th start of this season, his 9th at home and his 4th this year vs. Boston. To say the least, Hernandez has been hit hard lately by the home run ball. He has given up nine homers over 10 2/3 in his last three starts and allowed 12 homers over 26 innings in his past six starts. Hernandez, 2009 season: First 10 starts: 4-4, 3.81 Last six starts: 0-4, 9.00 Hernandez has allowed at least one gopher ball in nine straight starts, giving up 19 total in that stretch. The Orioles are 5-11 when he starts, losing the last six outings. Hernandez picked up his last win August 11th vs. Oakland. Hernandez, 2009 season: Home: 2-4, 5.40, 8 starts Road: 2-4, 5.40, 8 starts Hernandez has made three starts this year vs. Boston, going 1-2, 5.79. In 14 innings, he has allowed 16 hits and six homers. Boston's Dustin Pedroia is 3 for 8 with three homers vs. Hernandez and Kevin Youkilis is 3 for 7 with two homers. LHP Jon Lester (13-7, 3.29) tonight will make his 30th start of this season, his 17th on the road and the 12th in his career vs. the Orioles. Lester is 9-0 lifetime vs. Baltimore. That' the most career wins by any pitcher ever without a loss vs. the Orioles. He has won each of his last six starts vs. Baltimore. Add to that the fact he is currently working on a career-best 17 innings scoreless streak. Two starts ago he blanked Chicago over seven frames and Sunday vs. Tampa he shutout the Rays on two hits over eight innings. He was last scored on in the 4th inning of a September 1st start vs. Tampa. He ranks 3rd in the AL with 211 strikeouts and is 2nd in the AL with 10.07 K's per 9 innings. Over his last 19 starts, Lester is 10-2, 2.02 and has held his opponent to one ER or less in 11 of those starts. Lester, 2009 season: First half: 8-6, 3.87, 18 starts Second half: 5-1, 2.41, 11 starts On the year, the 25-year-old lefty has fanned 211 in 188 2/3 innings. The Red Sox are 20-9 when he starts, winning six in a row. In 16 road starts, he is 7-4, 3.47. Lester vs. Baltimore: 2009: 3-0, 0.84, three starts (21 1/3IP, 17H, 2ER, 4B, 26K) Career at Baltimore: 3-0, 1.69, five starts Career vs. Baltimore: 9-0, 2.21, 11 starts (17ER, 69 1/3IP). Lester did not allow a run vs. the O's in his first 16 innings against them this year. The Orioles are batting .213 off Lester in 2009 with just three extra-base hits, all doubles. O's hitters, career vs. Lester: Andino: 3-4 Izturis: 1-3, rbi Markakis: 7-32, rbi Moeller: 0-3 Mora: 4-23, 2 rbi Pie: 0-2 Roberts: 8-29, HR, rbi Scott: 0-8 Wieters: 2-6, rbi Wigginton: 5-10