After last night’s debacle win, the Boston Red Sox will need a great outing from Jon Lester to keep the bullpen from being overused. Even though he was roughed up a little bit in his last outing, Lester has been the stopper for the Red Sox all season.

He is 3-1 with a 2.54 ERA in his 4 post All-Star break starts and the Red Sox are 9-2 in games he has started at Fenway Park this year. Lester has no record in 2 starts with a 5.06 ERA against the Rangers in his career. He’s faced them once his season picking up a no-decision back on April 19th where he gave up 3 runs on 10 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5 in 6 1/3 innings.

Rangers skipper Ron Washington hopes to get a better outing from his starting pitcher Luis Mendoza then he received from last night’s starter Scott Feldman. Mendoza has faced the Red Sox once in his career and that came this season when the Red Sox got to him for 7 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks in 3 innings back on April 18th.

With Mike Lowell on the disabled list, the Red Sox called up David Pauley for tonight’s game. Pauley will be used in the bullpen and depending on what happens tonight, will most likely be sent back to Pawtucket so the Red Sox can call up a position player.

The Red Sox still have not announced a roster move for Paul Byrd but Byrd is at Fenway Park tonight and will be wearing #36 which just happens to be Kevin Cash’s number. Byrd didn’t ask for it but Cash gave it up to him.

“I’m still spinning a little bit,” said Byrd. “I’m excited to put on this uniform and walk through the clubhouse and meet some of the guys. They got a great thing going here and it’s nice to be a part of it.”

“I owe him something,” said Byrd.”I hear he’s a boots guy so I’ll have to get him a pair of boots, maybe a watch. It was real nice. I don’t know if the number is important to him but it’s been my number for a while so it’s awfully nice of him to give it up.”

Byrd added that he had no superstitions about the number 36, just that he liked it and had worn it for a long time. “It’s involved in some of my passwords on the computer so if I switched numbers I’d have to change all that up — no good.”

The Red Sox will be honoring their fans from Connecticut on August 31st. If you live in Connecticut, you can register to win a chance to purchase seats until August 18th at 12 NOON.

How well do we really know Don Orsillo, Jerry Remy and Heidi Wantsme Watney?

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein will be stopping by the NESN Playground on Friday at 3 PM to answer your questions.

If you missed the Peter Gammons chat over at Boston.com today, you can check out the transcript here.

Lineups and batter/pitcher matchups after the jump.

61-59

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Michael Young, SS
3. Josh Hamilton, CF
4. Milton Bradley, DH
5. Marlon Byrd, RF
6. Brandon Boggs, LF
7. Chris Davis, 1B
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
9 Travis Metcalf, 3B

- Luis Mendoza, SP

69-51

1. J.D. Drew, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. Jed Lowrie, SS
7. Sean Casey, 1B
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Coco Crisp, CF

- Jon Lester, SP

Here is the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers.