ALDS Game 1 Starters John Lackey and Josh Beckett are two more evenly-matched pitchers than the East Coast Biased Sports Industrial Complex might let you believe.
Lackey had 3 more Starts this season due to Beckett's little blister problem, but in 24 fewer innings pitched, Beckett had 15 more strikeouts. Lackey, however, gave up only 2 more runs overall despite that almost three complete games worth of innings pitched. Lackey has 1 fewer win while averageing almost TWO RUNS OF SUPPORT FEWER per game (4.49 - 6.42) than Beckett.
Plus, Lackey does not have that annoying Twat Beard that Beckett uses to sop up the drool.