Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 7/25

Kyle Davies (L), Jon Lester (R)

After sweeping the Seattle Mariners over the weekend, the Boston Red Sox will now play their next 14 games against foes from the AL Central. They’ll start tonight as they finish up the seven-game homestand at Historic Fenway Park with the first of a four-game set against the Kansas City Royals.

Tonight’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and the game will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Royals television market, you can watch the game on FOX Sports Kansas City. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

Here is the latest weather update from the Red Sox:

The current weather forecast (provided by the Red Sox private weather service, Telvent DTN) in the vicinity of Fenway Park calls for rain showers during the early evening hours. Conditions are expected to improve as the evening progresses. All Fenway Park gates opened as regularly scheduled. The Red Sox are hopeful that tonight’s game against the Kansas City Royals, which is scheduled to start at 7:10 p.m., will be played. However, the Red Sox want to alert our fans to the possibility of a delay. This forecast is of course subject to change as the evening progresses. Additional updates will be provided as necessary.

Jon Lester returns from the disabled list tonight to make his first since start since leaving his last start on July 5th with a lat strain. Lester has made 18 starts in 2011 and is 10-4 with a 3.31 ERA. Lester has made five career starts against the Royals and is 4-1 with a 1.22 ERA (5 ER/37 IP). Four of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 4-0 with a 0.28 ERA (1 ER/32 IP). One of those four starts at Fenway includes his only career no-hitter on May 19, 2008.

Kyle Davies looks for just his second win in his 14th start of 2011. In his previous 13 starts, Davies is 1-9 with a 7.32 ERA. He faced the Red Sox twice last season going 1-0 with a 6.55 ERA (8 ER/11 IP). He’s made three career starts against the Red Sox and is 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA (8 ER/16 IP). Two of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA (5 ER/10 IP).

Click on the read more button below to see tonight’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.

Here are this evening’s lineups:

42-59		62-37
1. Alex Gordon	LF	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Melky Cabrera	CF	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Billy Butler	DH	3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
4. Eric Hosmer	1B	4. Kevin Youkilis	3B
5. Jeff Francoeur	RF	5. David Ortiz	DH
6. Mike Aviles	3B	6. Carl Crawford	LF
7. Brayan Pena	C	7. Josh Reddick	RF
8. Alcides Escobar	SS	8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C
9. Chris Getz	2B	9. Marco Scutaro	SS
Kyle Davies	SP	Jon Lester	SP

And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:

Kansas City Royals @ Boston Red Sox batter/pitcher matchups

With Lester returning from the disabled list, J.D. Drew was placed on the disabled list with a left shoulder impingement. Kyle Weiland will head to the bullpen for the time being.

Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.

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Clay Buchholz: ‘Biggest step in right direction so far’ [Clubhouse Insider]

J.D. Drew injury won’t impact how Red Sox approach trade deadline [Clubhouse Insider]

No incentive for Sox to pay for Beltran [CSNNE.com]

Nation STATion: Francona makes history [CSSNE.com]

Buchholz felt ‘better’ after bullpen session Monday [CSNNE.com]

Notes: Lester expected to throw 80-85 pitches [CSNNE.com]

Video: Stark on AL East trade possibilities [ESPN Boston]

Boston Red Sox’s Clay Buchholz says back feels better after bullpen session [ESPN Boston]

Boston Red Sox activate Jon Lester; J.D. Drew (shoulder) to DL [ESPN Boston]

Buchholz throws bullpen [Extra Bases]