Lester Opening Day Starter in Detroit, Beckett Will Start Fenway Opener

Lefty Jon Lester will take the hill against the “Prince Fielder” Tigers on Opening day at Comerica Park in Detroit [1:05, Boston time] and face0ff against Justin Verlander, the 2011 Cy Young and AL MVP award winner.

Sources say that Josh Beckett felt that his friend deserved the honor and it means that Beckett will likely be the starting pitcher for the Red Sox home opener at Fenway against Tampa [Friday, April 13, 2:05]

Facing RHP Verlander, with Crawford not ready, Valentine will counter with three left-handed batters [Gonzalez, Ortiz and Sweeney] and two switch-hitters [Ellsbury and Saltalmacchia].

ab r hr rbi sb ba obp slg fantasy val.*

1	Jacoby Ellsbury	CF	575	103	23	72	46	.315	.374	.517	$36
2	Dustin Pedroia	2B	580	103	19	82	21	.305	.388	.476	$30
3	Adrian Gonzalez	1B	585	106	28	109	0	.301	.390	.515	$34
4	Kevin Youkilis	3B	425	77	18	80	3	.275	.389	.489	$11
5	David Ortiz	DH	515	91	28	95	1	.276	.373	.517	$21
6	Cody Ross	LF	370	49	13	53	4	.254	.327	.424	$-10
7	Jarrod Saltalamacchia	C	270	33	11	39	0	.237	.297	.437	$-12
8	Ryan Sweeney	RF	305	38	2	37	2	.279	.349	.370	$-20
9	Mike Aviles	SS	350	39	8	47	13	.274	.310	.411	$-11

[*fantasy baseball values from RotoChamp http://rotochamp.com/baseball/TeamPage.aspx?Team=BOS]

After putting his cleats down about alcohol in the clubhouse and the dust-up over his comments about Beckett, when he was a commentator for ESPN, Valentine reached out to Beckett for advice about Opening day starter status:

"“‘You have a lot more knowledge of Opening Day starters and mentality than I.”"

The the manager announced his politically savvy decision: “I saw the health of both of them. I figured it’s an honor both ways, I think — home opener and opener. So they’re both getting an honor.”

Lester will be the first pitcher to face the new Tiger, Prince Fielder, with this lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Brennan Boesch, RF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B
4. Prince Fielder, 1B
5. Delmon Young, DH
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Ryan Raburn, LF
9. Don Kelly, 2B

from AP:

Lester, 28, also started Boston’s first game of the 2011 season in Texas. He will be the first left-hander to start on Opening Day in back-to-back years for the Red Sox since Mel Parnell started three straight openers from 1952-54.

A two-time All-Star who was selected by the Red Sox in the second round in 2002, Lester is 76-34 with a 3.53 ERA and 894 strikeouts in six seasons.

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