Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays

The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bays will try it again today as yesterday’s season opener was rained out. The weather should be okay for the game as the forecast for the Fenway Park area calls for early evening showers. With the game starting at 4:05 PM, they shouldn’t be affected.

Today’s season opener will be broadcast on NESN with the pre-game show starting at 3:00 PM. The game will also be broadcast on WEEI and the Red Sox Radio Network on your radio.

Josh Beckett will take the ball for Terry Francona and the Red Sox today. Beckett has made 10 career starts against the Rays and sports a 5-3 record with a 3.10 ERA.

Rays skipper Joe Maddon will send out his ace James Shields to the mound for the opening day start. Shields has made 8 career starts and is 2-4 with a 5.23 ERA. Shields is 0-3 in 4 starts with a 10.12 ERA at Fenway Park.

Francona: ‘The excitement’s there’ [Boston Globe]

Baldelli most likely to play tomorrow against lefty Kazmir [Projo Sox Blog]

Sellout Today; Tito Hopes for Much Longer [Projo Sox Blog]

Beckett ready to go [Projo Sox Blog]

News and notes from Home Opener, 2.0 [Clubhouse Insider]

Here are the lineups for today’s game:

Tampa Bay Rays0-0

Red Sox logo0-0

1. Akinori Iwamura 2B 1. Jacoby Ellsbury CF
2. Carl Crawford LF 2. Dustin Pedroia 2B
3. Evan Longoria 3B 3. David Ortiz DH
4. Carlos Peña 1B 4. Kevin Youkilis 1B
5. Pat Burrell DH 5. J.D. Drew RF
6. Matt Joyce CF 6. Jason Bay LF
7. Dioner Navarro C 7. Mike Lowell 3B
8. Gabe Gross RF 8. Jed Lowrie SS
9. Jason Bartlett SS 9. Jason Varitek C
James Shields SP Josh Beckett SP

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

Batter/Pitcher Matchups 4/7/09