The Red Sox suffered few injuries this spring and appear to be in good shape to approach -- or surpass -- the 95 victories they achieved last season. The complete pitching staff -- starters and bullpen -- and overall team defense are significant strengths on an extremely well-rounded and deep ballclub. The lineup will be full of good hitters capable of grinding out at-bats and providing slugging percentage, but LF Manny Ramirez took some of the offense's sparkle with him to Los Angeles last summer.
PLAYER NEWS: --RHP Tim Wakefield is scheduled to make the Friday night start in Anaheim against the Angels, and he will be the fourth consecutive double-figure-winning pitcher to start a game for the Sox in their first four games. It's the first time that the Sox can make that claim since way back in 1911, when the Boston pitching staff was led by the legendary Smokey Joe Wood.
--LHP Hideki Okajima has struggled mightily in his first two relief appearances of the season. The setup man hit a batter and walked a batter in his first relief appearance Tuesday afternoon, and then walked two more batters while also allowing a hit in two-thirds of an inning in Thursday's loss. Okajima issued only 17 walks in 69 innings during his All-Star season in 2007.
--3B Mike Lowell and manager Terry Francona had a discussion prior to Thursday's afternoon getaway game at Fenway Park about potentially giving Lowell some rest. Francona said that his third baseman should let him know if Lowell and his surgically repaired hip need a rest in a day game following a night game this early in the season, but Lowell declined to take the day off. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI before being lifted for PR Nick Green in the eighth inning.
MEDICAL WATCH:
SS Julio Lugo (arthroscopic right knee surgery in March 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He is expected to miss the first two weeks of the regular season.
OF Mark Kotsay (back surgery in January 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He hopes to return in May.
RHP John Smoltz (right shoulder surgery in June 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He threw 40 fastballs during his first bullpen session in late March and is expected to pitch for the Red Sox in June barring any setbacks.
OF Jonathan Van Every (sprained right ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27.
RHP Miguel Gonzalez (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27.
ROTATION:
1. RHP Josh Beckett
2. LHP Jon Lester
3. RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka
4. RHP Tim Wakefield
5. RHP Brad Penny
BULLPEN:
RHP Jonathan Papelbon (closer)
LHP Hideki Okajima
RHP Ramon Ramirez
RHP Manny Delcarmen
RHP Takashi Saito
LHP Javier Lopez
RHP Justin Masterson
LINEUP:
1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. 2B Dustin Pedroia
3. DH David Ortiz
4. 1B Kevin Youkilis
5. OF Jason Bay
6. 3B Mike Lowell
7. OF J.D. Drew
8. SS Jed Lowrie
9. C Jason Varitek
RESERVES:
C George Kottaras
OF Rocco Baldelli
SS Nick Green
1B/OF Chris Carter
