4/11 Clay Buchholz vs Chien-Ming Wang

In what looks to be a very soggy series, the olde towne team plays their first game against the Yankees of '08 at Fenway tonight. Buchholz had a rough first start, getting touched for 4 runs in 5 innings of work. Wang, the Yanks' ace, won both of his starts this year. Wang has held opponents to only two runs through 13 innings, looking very strong so far.

Mike Lowell is headed to the DL after spraining his thumb in Wednesday night's game against the Tigers. Youkilis is moving across the diamond to cover him at third, and "The Mayor" Sean Casey will be filling in at first base. Infield prospect Jed Lowrie has been called up to fill Lowell's roster spot.

Derek Jeter is out of the Yanks lineup, with the possibility of A-Rod moving to short if the problem proves to be a long-term one. Dealing with an ailing Jeter and Posada has made the Yankees jumble around the lineup-Hideki Matsui got his first start in right field since 2005 last night, and Jorge Posada got the start at DH.

4/4 Tim Wakefield vs Shaun Marcum

by Dan C.

The Red Sox are coming off an impressive 5-0 victory and 3-1 series win over the Oakland Athletics that took a week and two countries to complete but they now look to take an early lead in the AL East by taking another series against their interdivision opponents north of the border. In Friday’s match up the Sox will send veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to the mound for his first start of the 2008 season. This is Wakefield’s 14th season with the club and he’s coming off a career high 17 win year.

The Blue Jays are coming off a series vs. the New York Yankees and will hand the ball to RHP Shaun Marcum. Marcum, in his third year as a starting pitcher, logged a career high 159 innings last season and was able to win 12 games which was also a career high. One of his biggest problems is he throws too many strikes. With a low walk total, hitters know the ball is going to be around the plate and go up there hacking. He allowed 27 HR’s last year and needs to improve that stat if he hopes to stay in the Jays starting rotation for a full season.

Wakefield has historically pitched very well inside of a dome but with the knuckleball you never really know what you’re going to get. The key for both pitchers will be to try and limit the long ball while hoping their offense can put up some early runs that they can protect.

4/2/08 - Jon Lester vs Rich Harden

by Dan C

Jon Lester will take the hill for the Red Sox following up an impressive pitching performance by fellow staffer Dice-K Matsuzaka. Matsuzaka allowed only 2 hits through 6 and 2/3 innings of work, walked none and stuck out 9 Athletics. He looked much sharper then his opening day start in Japan where he had control problems and had to pitch out of two bases loaded jam situations early on. Lester did not look bad in his start last week but served up a 3-run homer to Emil Brown that was be enough damage to hand him the loss.

For the Athletics, Rich Harden looks to repeat his strong opening performance in which he allowed 1 run on 3 hits over 6 innings of work. Harden, who missed the majority of the 2007 season due to injury, will be trying to surpass his win total of last year with tonight’s outing.

The key for both pitchers will be to throw strikes early on to establish the strike zone, not allowing hitters to sit back and wait for lower 90’s fastballs. Harden needs to mix in his curve, while Lester will showcase a strong changeup.

4/01/08 Daisuke Matsuzaka vs. Joe Blanton

In a repeat of the true season opener in Japan on Wednesday, the Sox and A's kick off the "domestic" version tonight at the McAffee Coliseum. Daisuke started off the previous game looking lost, but gained confidence (and more importantly, control) as the game went on. Blanton seemed just the opposite, throwing 5 dominant innings only to give up 3 in the sixth. Huston Street started an opening day closer implosion trend, followed by Tom Gordon, Eric Gagne, and Kerry Wood. While he did not outright lost his role as closer, he's likely on thin ice after blowing an opportunity on Wednesday.

JD Drew should be back in the lineup, no word yet on Coco vs Ellsbury in center. Bobby Kielty is likely to start 2008 in the minors, expected to be a bench option if any injuries occur.