Much like Sunday's matchup in Tampa Bay, Tuesday's showdown with the Orioles features another meeting of two elite arms.

Boston ace Josh Beckett, among the Major League wins leaders with 13, is coming off one of his finest starts of the year. He may have been saddled with the loss, but he put together a complete game and held the Indians to a single run on four hits.

The right-hander has alternated a win with a loss during his last six starts, but five of those (and 13 of 19 this season) have been quality. Statistically, Beckett is having his best career year as well, and he is on pace to surpass his career-high win total of 16, which he set last season.

Baltimore will counter with its ace, Erik Bedard. The southpaw may not have as many wins as Beckett, but he leads the big leagues with 175 strikeouts. Bedard has been frighteningly sharp over his last four starts, during which he went 4-0 with an 0.62 ERA. During that period, he fanned 41 hitters.

In his most recent start, Bedard allowed a single run on six hits against Tampa Bay over six innings and recorded eight strikeouts.

Tuesday will mark the first time this season Beckett and Bedard have gone head-to-head.

Pitching matchup
BOS: RHP Josh Beckett (13-4, 3.27 ERA)
Beckett's holding his opponents to a .232 batting average this season, which ties his career low set in 2002.

BAL: LHP Erik Bedard (10-4, 3.05 ERA)
Bedard has held hitters to a .222 career average in July.

Player to watch
Wily Mo Pena is hitting .625 off Bedard in his career (5-for-8), with two RBIs and three walks.

Tickets
 Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• NESN

On radio
• WRKO 680, WROL (Español)

Up next
• Wednesday: Red Sox (Kason Gabbard, 4-0, 3.73) vs. Orioles (Steve Trachsel, 5-7, 5.26), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Red Sox (TBD) vs. Orioles (TBD), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Friday: Red Sox (TBD) at Mariners (Horacio Ramirez, 6-3, 6.52), 10:05 p.m. ET