Boston Red Sox (0-3) @ Cleveland Indians (1-2)
Josh Beckett (0-0, -.–) @ Josh Tomlin (0-0, -.–)
7:05 PM EDT | Progressive Field (Cleveland, Ohio)
TV: NESN RADIO: WEEI 850, SBN 1510
INJURY REPORT
Boston: Felix Doubront, left elbow inflammation (placed on 15-day DL 3/31, retroactive to 3/22)
Cleveland: Jason Donald, fractured left index finger (placed on 15-day DL 3/30, retroactive to 3/22); Grady Sizemore, left knee surgery (placed on 15-day DL 3/30, retroactive to 3/29); Joe Smith, abdominal strain (placed on 15-day DL 3/30, retroactive to 3/22)
GAME NOTES
Enough has been said about the first series, I don’t need to add to it. If Josh Beckett can give a solid outing today, it will be a huge step in him bouncing back and returning to ace status. Yes, it will only be his first start and we shouldn’t read to much into it either way, but if he can stop the Indians and give the Sox a win after the disappointing opening series in Texas, it will go along way. He will be opposed by Josh Tomlin who made 12 starts last year, his rookie year, going 6-4 with a 4.56 ERA. Here’s hoping Beckett can channel some of his 2007 ALCS vs. the Indians self. More lineup shuffling for the Sox, Crawford in the 2-hole, Pedroia in the 3. Personally, I like Ellsbury and Crawford hitting back-to-back. Just imagine both of the consistently getting on base together and then running wild.
LINEUPS
Boston
Ellsbury CF
Crawford LF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Youkilis 3B
Ortiz DH
Drew RF
Saltalamacchia C
Scutaro SS
Cleveland
Brantley CF
Asdrubal Cabrera SS
Choo RF
Santana C
Hafner DH
Orlando Cabrera 2B
Kearns LF
LaPorta 1B
Hannahan 3B
PLAYER OF THE DAY
Today is the 5th, as most of you probably do, whenever I think of the number 5, I think of Nomar. But who wore 5 just before him? Scott Fletcher. Fletcher was a shortstop/second baseman for the Red Sox in 1993 and 1994. According to Bill James, Fletcher “didn’t do anything exceptionally well” but it was enough to have a 15-year career and 1,376 career hits.