ALCS Game 1 scouting report

ALCS GAME 1 MATCHUP NOTES

C.C. SABATHIA (INDIANS) VS. JOSH BECKETT (RED SOX)

Indians hitters who match up well vs. Beckett

Jhonny Peralta

Was 3-for-5 against Beckett this year with a walk. All three of his hits came against Beckett’s overpowering fastball.

Jason Michaels

Is 4-for-10 lifetime against Beckett with a double and a home run. He hit Beckett's fastball and changeup hard twice.

Travis Hafner

Is 4-for-9 with three extra-base hits against Beckett in his career. Hafner has swung and missed only once in his nine AB’s against Beckett.

Indians hitters who could struggle

Kenny Lofton

If Lofton tries to pull the ball against Beckett it may be a long night. He's 1-for-10 to the pull side of the field, but 2-for-6 otherwise.

Victor Martinez

Martinez hit .382 against fastballs over 94 mph this season, but he was 0-for-4 against Beckett's upper-90s heater this year.

Grady Sizemore

Did not hit a ball hard against Beckett in six at-bats this season. Sizemore missed Beckett's curve three of the four times he offered at it.

Red Sox hitters who match up well vs. Sabathia

Manny Ramirez

Has the highest career slugging percentage against Sabathia of any active player with 10 or more PA's against him.

Kevin Youkilis

83 percent of Sabathia's pitches to Youkilis have been fastballs and each at-bat has ended on one (3-for-7 lifetime).

Bobby Kielty

The reserve outfielder has hit Sabathia hard in the past (.500 well-hit average of balls in play since 2002).

Red Sox hitters who could struggle

Jason Varitek

Has only one hit against Sabathia in 10 career at-bats. Varitek is 0-for-5 against Sabathia's off-speed pitches.

J.D. Drew

Has faced Sabathia only three times; with all three ending on sliders for a strikeout. Drew has missed on five of his six swings against C.C.’s slider.

Julio Lugo

Lugo batted .226 against lefties this season, and is 2-for-11 (.182) against Sabathia since 2004.