With April behind us, we’ve got a general idea of the character of this Red Sox team. One thing is certain: It’s gonna be a rollercoaster ride that will weaken the most iron of stomachs. After starting a Far East induced 5-6, the Sox vaulted to the top of the standings with a 10-1 run. From that point, they lost five in a row then won five of six to end up here, at a very respectable 20-13. I’d give a non-vital digit for some god damn consistency.

Detroit welcomes Boston to Comerica Park on Monday, televised on ESPN. It will probably be butchered by Dan Shulman, Steve Phillips and Orel Hershiser, but hey, at least they aren’t Miller/Morgan. Detroit’s slow start was well reported, but they haven’t exactly burned the house down since “snapping out of it.” From 0-7 they stand at 14-18, and came to within a game of .500 before being swept over the weekend in Minnesota.

Brandon Moss will be sidelined for a few weeks after having an appendectomy and Mr. Electric, Craig Hansen, is back. I couldn’t be happier to see Hansen back in the pen, but not at the cost of a backup outfielder. With everyone (save Manny) in the outfield hurting, Jonathan Van Every would make a lot more sense. Comerica’s ginormous gaps make corner outfield defense that much more important, so I hope there’s a sky-is-falling plan.

Your four game series preview, in convenient bulleted form, (because I am lazy and running late this morning):

Monday, Matsuzaka vs. Bonderman

• Happy Cinco de Mayo!
• Daisuke’s last start: 7 IP, 2 H, 2 B, 111 pitches
• Sheff 6-10, HR versus Matsuzaka
• Bonderman lots of BB, few Ks, He’s throwing his fastball more and slider less than years past: 66% FB, 27% SL, compared to 58 and 35% last year
• Get to the bullpen and wear out a thin group for the long series

Tuesday, Wakefield vs. Robertson

• Happy Seis de Mayo!
• Magglio 15-35, 5 2B, 2 HR vs Wake
• Robertson: first W of the season last time out vs Yankees, 6.28 ERA needs run support
• 4/10: Same matchup, Sox won 12-6

Wednesday, Buchholz vs. Galarraga

• Galarraga: 1.88 ERA, 0.875 WHIP
• older than Bonderman, his last good pro season in a meaningful sample, 2005 in high A
• tall, lanky righty: 6′4″ 180 lbs.
• No one on the Sox has faced him
• He has been avoiding solid contact and home runs, 0.38 HR/9, .186 BABIP.
• Revert him! To the mean, Alice, to the mean!

Thursday, Beckett vs. Verlander

• Finale and exclamation point
• Verlander: 1.44 WHIP, 6.28 ERA
• Command is killing him, LD% and GB% both better than career averages
• Beckett: 0.96 WHIP! Everything else in line with career averages

In honor of not listening to Joe Morgan, one of my favorite blogs: Fire Joe Morgan.