Kansas City Royals (42-59) @ Boston Red Sox (62-37)
Kyle Davies (1-9, 7.32) @ Jon Lester (10-4, 3.31)
7:10 PM EDT | Fenway Park (Boston, MA)
TV: NESN RADIO: WEEI 850, WWZN 1510
GAME NOTES
Jon Lester returns tonight from the disabled list to take on the Kansas City Royals. In his last start against the Blue Jays, Lester was taken out after 4 no-hit innings because of the injury, he really did look dominant in that start. It’s interesting to think what kind of start that could have been had he not been taken out. The hope is that he will be able to pick right where he left off, even though he is slated to throw only 80-90 pitched tonight. It’s perfect that he is returning against the Royals. It was against Kansas City of course that Lester thew his no-hitter on May 19, 2008. Lester is 4-1 with a 1.22 ERA against the Royal is his career and has held Royal batters to a .124/.225/.157 line.
INJURY REPORT
Kansas City: NONE
Boston: Clay Buchholz, lower back strain (Placed on 15-day DL June 19, retroactive to June 17); J.D. Drew, left shoulder impingement (Expected to be placed on 15-day DL July 25); Bobby Jenks, strained back (Placed on 15-day DL 7/16); Jed Lowrie, right shoulder injury (Placed on 15-day DL on June 17)
PLAYER OF THE DAY
Pitcher Steve Crawford appeared in 277 games over his major league career, 173 with the Red Sox and 104 with the Royals. Crawford made his debut for the Red Sox in 1980. Crawford was a jack-of-all trades pitcher, serving mostly as a middle reliever but started 16 games over his career and also recorded 19 saves. He was the winning pitcher in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCs against the Angels, the game most known for Dave Henderson’s go ahead home run in the top of the ninth, capping a 4-run rally. Crawford pitched the 9th and 10th inning for the Red Sox, earning the win when Henderson hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the 11th. Crawford was also earned the win in Game 2 of the World Series. Crawford played the final three years of his career with the Royals, making his last appearance on October 5, 1991.
Line-ups will be posted in the comments when they are available, feel free to add them if they aren’t there.