Humber and Axelrod to start against the Red Sox

Robin Ventura announced on Friday that both Dylan Axelrod and Philip Humber are going to start against the Red Sox in Boston next week. Axelrod was slated to get the call on Tuesday before he went out and threw two innings earlier this morning and Humber was to go on Wednesday. Robin Ventura said after the game that he may flip the two.

Right now, Jake Peavy and Chris Sale are slated to go the next two days against the Royals. Gavin Floyd will open up the Red Sox series, followed by Humber, Axelrod and Jose Quintana. That would set up Peavy, Sale and Floyd to go against the Tigers next weekend in Detroit and also give the rotation one more extra day of rest.

While I like that the Tigers series is setting up nicely, I am a little nervous to start Humber and Axelrod back to back at Fenway. We might have to score a lot of runs in those games to pull out a victory, especially with Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford both back in time for the series. Those games also may tax the bullpen, so hopefully Peavy and Sale can make it pretty easy these next two days in Kansas City.

As hot as the White Sox have been, they have not been able to gain any games on the Indians or Tigers, who have both been hot in their own right. Of course, if you look at it from the other way, the Indians and Tigers haven't been able to gain on us either. The Tigers also face a tough challenge during the week, as they welcome the Angels for a four game set.

Next weekend will be the first of many "biggest series of the year". Hopefully the Sox can smack around the Tigers like the National League did to Verlander during the All Star game. First thing is first though, let's take care of the Royals this weekend...which unfortunately has been easier said than done.