After losing two-of-three to the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston Red Sox will finish off their six-game homestand with interleague play. Tonight, they’ll welcome the Washington Nationals to Historic Fenway Park for the first game of a three-game set.
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 Nationals television market, you can catch the game on MASN. If you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to it on the Red Sox radio network.
Felix Doubront looks to continue his fine season in his 12th start of 2012. In his previous 11 starts, Doubront is 6-2 with a 3.75 ERA. He’s never faced the Nationals in his career.
Stephen Strasburg is also making his 12th start of the season for the NL East-leading Nationals. In his 11 previous starts, Strasburg is 6-1 with a 2.35 ERA. Tonight marks his first career start against the Red Sox and at the Fens.
Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the overnight and day if you’re on the home page.
Here are today’s lineups:
 32-23 |
 29-28 |
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| 1. Danny Espinosa | 2B | 1. Daniel Nava | LF |
| 2. Bryce Harper | CF | 2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B |
| 3. Ryan Zimmerman | 3B | 3. Adrian Gonzalez | 1B |
| 4. Michael Morse | DH | 4. David Ortiz | DH |
| 5. Adam LaRoche | 1B | 5. Jarrod Saltalamacchia | C |
| 6. Ian Desmond | SS | 6. Kevin Youkilis | 3B |
| 7. Xavier Nady | RF | 7. Ryan Sweeney | RF |
| 8. Tyler Moore | LF | 8. Mike Aviles | SS |
| 9. Jesus Flores | C | 9. Scott Podsednik | CF |
| Stephen Strasburg | SP | Felix Doubront | SP |
And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:
NOTES:
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Fast friends Will Middlebrooks, Bryce Harper making big impressions [Clubhouse Insider]
Duel identity tonight at Fenway [CSN New England]
Valentine: Limit voices talking to Bard [CSN New England]
Red Sox eager to face Strasburg, Harper [CSN New England]
Sox set to face Strasburg, Nats [ESPN Boston]
Young meets old as Harper hits Fenway [ESPN Boston]
Bobby V: Strasburg ‘like looking at a rainbow’ [ESPN Boston]
Bryce Harper: ‘Cool to come in here and play’ [ESPN Boston]
Red Sox to recognize Pan-Mass cyclists [Extra Bases]
Bobby V on Harper, Strasburg and the 60s [Extra Bases]
Pedroia feeling better about his thumb [Extra Bases]
Daniel Bard on demotion: ‘I’m just an employee here’ [Full Count]
Does Bryce Harper’s Attitude Rub You the Wrong Way? [NESN.com]
Daniel Nava’s Ability to Get on Base Earns Him Another Game Atop Boston’s Order [NESN.com]
Bobby Valentine Likens Stephen Strasburg to ‘Looking At a Rainbow’, Showers Bryce Harper With Praise [NESN.com]
Daisuke Matsuzaka Ready For Return, Bobby Valentine Doesn’t Believe Speaking Japanese Will Help [NESN.com]
Bard discusses demotion, mechanical flaws [Pawtucket Times]
A Series Matter: Red Sox-Nationals and Being Presidential [Projo Sox Blog]
Matsuzaka says Saturday will be “a very emotional day” [Projo Sox Blog]
Valentine impressed by Harper [Projo Sox Blog]
Red Sox excited for challenge of Strasburg [Projo Sox Blog]
Valentine confident in Saltalamacchia’s durability [Projo Sox Blog]
Doubront, Red Sox open set vs. Strasburg, Nats [RedSox.com]
Upstart Nava may finally get an agent [RedSox.com]
Like Harper, Valentine was a 19-year-old rookie [RedSox.com]
Dice-K looking forward to ’emotional’ return [RedSox.com]
A Nationals event: Red Sox marvel at Harper, Strasburg [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
Daisuke: Return ‘represents a new start’ [Alex Speier – WEEI.com]
NESN Presents “The Adventures of Ellsbury ‘n’ Elf,” Episode 582-D: Nothing a Few Name Tags Wouldn’t Fix [Surviving Grady]
Castiglione Looks at a Life of Broadcasting Sox [The Big Lead]
Podcast: Bard, Nava and depth perception [Touching All the Bases]
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photo credits: Getty Images, Getty Images
