Boston Red Sox (75-49) @ Kansas City Royals (52-74)
Jon Lester (12-6, 3.22) @ Danny Duffy (3-7, 5.66)
2:10 PM EDT | Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City, MO)
TV: NESN RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
GAME NOTES
While Tim Wakefield was denied history on Saturday night, Jon Lester will get a reminder of history past on Sunday afternoon. He takes the mound against the Royals, the same team that couldn’t manage a hit off the dominant lefty on that fateful May night three years ago. While he hasn’t done anything quite as historic lately, he’s been almost everything the Sox could hope for. His last start was a gem against Tampa bay in which he twirled seven innings, giving up only one run and striking out eight. The win brought his record to 12-6 and his ERA sits at a clean 3.22 mark. The Royals will send the struggling Danny Duffy to the mound. He was lit up in his last start against the Yankees, surrendering eight runs in only three innings of work. He carries a lofty 5.66 ERA on the season and has posted a 3-7 record. Jacoby Ellsbury will miss another game after being hit by a pitch in Friday night’s affair. Darnell McDonald will play center in his place and bat second. David Ortiz is also absent yet again with a heel injury. Ryan Lavarnway will again DH in his place. Josh Reddick will actually start against a lefty for one of the first times this year.
Lineups
Boston
- Marco Scutaro, SS
- Darnell McDonald, CF
- Adrian Gonzalez, DH
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Jed Lowrie, 3B
- Ryan Lavarnway, DH
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Jason Varitek, C
- Josh Reddick, RF
Kansas City
- Alex Gordon, RF
- Melky Cabrera, CF
- Billy Butler, DH
- Eric Hosmer, 1B
- Jeff Francouer, RF
- Johnny Giovatella, 2B
- Salvador Perez, C
- Mike Moustakas, 3B
- Alcides Escobar, SS
INJURY REPORT
Boston: Clay Buchholz, lower back strain (placed on 15-day DL June 19, retroactive to June 17); J.D. Drew, left shoulder impingement (placed on 15-day DL July 26); Bobby Jenks, strained back (placed on 15-day DL July 16); David Ortiz, right heel bursitis (day-to-day); Marco Scutaro, stiff back back (day-to-day); Kevin Youkilis, sore back (Placed on the 15 day DL August 18)
Kansas City: Kyle Davies, right shoulder impingement (placed on the 15 day DL August 1)
Stats
-Lester is 3-0 with a 0.61 ERA in his last four starts against the Royals.
-Adrian Gonzalez has one home runs in his last 173 plate appearances.
-Duffy has an 8.37 ERA over his last five outings.
-The Sox are 10-9 in August after going 20-6 in July.