After a solid team win on Tuesday night, the Boston Red Sox look to take the series in the rubber game of three-game set against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field this afternoon.
Today’s game is scheduled to begin at 12:05 p.m. and will be televised in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Indians television market, you can catch the game on STO. And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.
Jon Lester looks to pick up his seventh win of the season today for skipper Terry Francona. In 10 starts this season, Lester is 6-1 with a 3.68 ERA. He’s made one start against the Indians this season and picked up a no decision after seven shutout innings back on 4/7. He’s made nine career starts against the Tribe and is 3-1 with a 3.93 ERA. Including his previous start at Progressive Field this year, Lester is 1-0 with a 5.22 ERA in five starts there.
Mitch Talbot returns from the disabled list after straining his right elbow to make the start for the Indians. He’s made just two starts this season and is 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA. One of those two starts came against the Red Sox back on 4/6 where he didn’t factor into the decision. In that game, he allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings of work. Talbot has made three career appearances (two starts) against the Red Sox and is 0-0 with a 6.35 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 this afternoon’s lineups:
 26-22 |
 30-16 |
||
| 1. Jacoby Ellsbury | CF | 1. Michael Brantley | CF |
| 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B | 2. Asdrubal Cabrera | SS |
| 3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B | 3. Shin-Soo Choo | RF |
| 4. David Ortiz | DH | 4. Shelley Duncan | DH |
| 5. Jed Lowrie | SS | 5. Matt LaPorta | 1B |
| 6. Carl Crawford | LF | 6. Austin Kearns | LF |
| 7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia | C | 7. Jack Hannahan | 3B |
| 8. Mike Cameron | RF | 8. Lou Marson |
C |
| 9. Drew Sutton | 3B | 9. Adam Everett | 2B |
| Jon Lester | SP | Mitch Talbot | SP |
Note: Kevin Youkilis was in the original starting lineup and has been replaced by Drew Sutton. Youk was scratched due to his left hand being sore from diving for a ball yesterday.
And here is how the hitters have fared against this afternoon’s starting pitchers:
Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.
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Kevin Youkilis out with sore hand; Bobby Jenks set for sim game [Clubhouse Insider]
Pregame notes: Youkilis, Drew out of lineup [CSNNE.com]
Video: State of the Nation with Gordon Edes [ESPN Boston]
Beckett on pace for historic May [ESPN Boston]
Francona to host Fenway gala on June 15 [Extra Bases]
Drew nursing hamstring [Extra Bases]
Minor Details Ep. 11: Development in the Red Sox front office [Full Count]
Some serious anti-Daisuke Matsuzaka vitriol. But why do the Red Sox get a free pass? [HardBallTalk]
2012 Contract Issues: Boston Red Sox [MLBTradeRumors.com]
Youkilis scratched with sore left hand [Projo Sox Blog]
Drew out with hamstring injury [Projo Sox Blog]
Lester aiming for Major League-leading seventh win [RedSox.com]
Vote the Ticket [SFGiants.com]
Red Sox in no-win situation with Dice-K [Yahoo! Sports]
Photo credits: Getty Images, Getty Images
