Jon Lester looks to help the Boston Red Sox move to 1/2 game behind the Rays for first in the AL East.
I am pretty sure you’ve heard this a few times here now but the Boston Red Sox kick off a huge 3-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park tonight. The game will be played in front of a MLB-record 456th consecutive sold-out crowd.
It should be an interesting series as the Rays come in having lost 3 straight games while the Red Sox took 2-of-3 over the weekend.
Terry Francona hands the ball to Jon Lester tonight who is undefeated in 6 career starts against the Rays. He’s 3-0 with a 4.11 ERA in those 6 starts. Against the Rays this season, Lester is 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in 2 games.
Edwin Jackson takes the bump tonight for the Joe Maddon’s first place club. Jackson had made 10 appearances (7 starts) against the Red Sox and is 2-3 with a 5.70 ERA. He is 0-2 with a 6.18 ERA in 3 starts against the Red Sox this year.
With the PawSox having been eliminated from the playoffs last night, the Red Sox have called up catcher George Kottaras and outfielder Chris Carter. Bartolo Colon is still expected to start one of the games in the doubleheader on Saturday against the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays.
J.D. Drew is also expected to be activated off the disabled list before the game tonight but will not be in the starting lineup.
Alex Speier talks to a doctor who says what Big Papi is going through with his wrist is normal.
Terry Francona gave Dustin Pedroia a pair of pink cowboy boots that Pedroia wore to the ballpark today.
Lineups and batter/pitcher matchups after the jump.
85-56
1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. B.J. Upton, CF
3. Carlos Pena, 1B
4. Rocco Baldelli, DH
5. Willy Aybar, 3B
6. Dioner Navarro, C
7. Jason Bartlett, SS
8. Gabe Gross, CF
9. Fernando Perez, RF
– Edwin Jackson, SP
84-58
1. Mark Kotsay, RF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
5. Jason Bay, LF
6. Mike Lowell, 3B
7. Jed Lowrie, SS
8. Jason Varitek, C
9. Coco Crisp, CF
– Jon Lester, SP
And here is how the hitters have fared against tonight’s starting pitchers.
