After being swept by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Boston Red Sox look to turn the seven-game homestand around tonight in the first game of a four-game set with the Kansas City Royals at historic Fenway Park.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Royals television market, you can catch the game on Fox Sports Kansas City. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.
Jon Lester looks for his third straight win in his 26th start of 2012. In his previous 25 starts, Lester is 7-10 with a 5.03 ERA. He took the loss in his only start of the season against the Royals after allowing one run in five innings of work back on May 9th. Lester has made eight career starts against the Royals and is 5-2 with a 1.35 ERA. He’s been perfect against them at the Fens as he is 4-0 with a 0.48 ERA (2 ER/37.1 IP) in five starts.
The well traveled veteran Bruce Chen makes his 27th start of the 2012 season. In his previous 26 starts, Chen is 9-10 with a 5.45 ERA. He was matched up with Lester in that May 9th start and picked up the win after allowing three earned runs in 6.2 innings of work. Chen has made 17 career appearances (10 starts) against his former club and is 4-6 with a 5.76 ERA. 11 of those appearances (five starts) have come at the Fens where he is 1-3 with a 7.00 ERA.
Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the day if you’re on the home page.
Here are today’s lineups:
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 59-66 |
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| 1. Lorenzo Cain | CF | 1. Pedro Ciriaco | 3B |
| 2. Alcides Escobar | SS | 2. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF |
| 3. Alex Gordon | LF | 3. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 4. Billy Butler | DH | 4. David Ortiz | DH |
| 5. Jeff Francoeur | RF | 5. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 6. Mike Moustakas | 3B | 6. Cody Ross | RF |
| 7. Brayan Pena | C | 7. Ryan Lavarnway | C |
| 8. Eric Hosmer | 1B | 8. Mike Aviles | SS |
| 9. Johnny Giavotella | 2B | 9. Scott Podsednik | LF |
| Bruce Chen | SP | Jon Lester | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:
NOTES: As you can tell from the lineup, Big Papi has returned from the DL. Junichi Tazawa has been optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room for Big Papi on the 25-man roster.
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The Unloveable, Unwatchable, Despicable Boston Red Sox [the atlantic]
Sources: Sox, Dodgers talk blockbuster [rob bradford – weei.com]
Nomar weighs in on Red Sox turnout at Pesky funeral, as well as ‘12 Red Sox [clubhouse insider]
Dodgers awarded waiver claim on Gonzalez [clubhouse insider]
Gonzalez and Beckett claimed by Dodgers [clubhouse insider]
Red Sox source: Red Sox would get 5 Dodgers but still hurdles [clubhouse insider]
Ortiz in lineup barring any last-minute setbacks [csn new england]
News of Beckett, Gonzalez waiver claims breaks before game [csn new england]
Boston Red Sox’s Adrian Gonzalez could be headed to Los Angeles Dodgers, sources say [espn boston]
Red Sox, Dodgers closing in on bockbuster [espn boston]
Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz activated, to play vs. Kansas City Royals [espn boston]
Will anyone bite on Red Sox players? [extra bases]
Sign him up: Bill Lee goes the distance [extra bases]
Dodgers awarded waiver claim on Gonzalez [extra bases]
Ortiz likely back in lineup after evaluations [extra bases]
Valentine: ‘People in baseball can’t keep a secret’ [extra bases]
Nuggetpalooza: Sifting through the ashes of another Red Sox heartbreaker [full count]
Confusion reigns as Red Sox can’t get their stories straight [tony massarotti – boston globe]
How Many More Home Runs Will David Ortiz Hit This Season? [nesn.com]
Red Sox’ Injury Issues a Factor in Team’s Struggles, But Only Part of the Problem [nesn.com]
Report: Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford Part of Potential Blockbuster Trade to Dodgers [nesn.com]
Adrian Gonzalez Avoids Trade Questions, But Bobby Valentine Says Any Team Would Want Red Sox Star [nesn.com]
Trags Bag: 10 good reasons to watch, if not cheer, the Red Sox in September [mike petraglia – weei.com]
Doozy of a trade rumor: Beckett, Crawford and Gonzalez to Los Angeles? [projo sox blog]
Ortiz back in the Red Sox lineup [projo sox blog]
Lester eyes third straight win in opener vs. Royals [redsox.com]
‘Spaceman’ Lee, 65, goes distance for win [redsox.com]
Dodgers make waiver claim on A-Gone [redsox.com]
Report: Sox owner Henry writing a book [alex speier – weei.com]
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