A night after the Red Sox used a 10-run seventh inning to blast the Padres 14-5, Francona is making a couple of changes with right-hander Mat Latos on the mound for San Diego.

Jarrod Satlalamacchia will be behind the plate catching Alfredo Aceves, who is making a spot start in the wake of Josh Beckett's illness. Saltalamacchia will look to continue a hot month of June, which he enters Tuesday night hitting .333, a number that has helped raise his average 29 points since the beginning of the month.

J.D. Drew also returns to the Red Sox lineup a night after beginning the game out of the order in favor of Darnell McDonald, who was in the lineup with a left-hander on the mound on Monday night. Drew did pinch hit on Monday night and walked, singled and scored a pair of runs.

Carl Crawford, who is on the 15-day disabled list, is the only member of the Red Sox to have ever faced Latos, who will make his first career start against Boston.

Wheaton College graduate Chris Denorfia will lead off and play right field for the Padres.

Here is how both teams will start on Tuesday.

Boston
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
J.D. Drew, RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Marco Scutaro, SS
Josh Reddick, LF

San Diego
Chris Denorfia, RF
Jason Bartlett, SS
Chase Headley, 3B
Ryan Ludwick, LF
Jesus Guzman, DH
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Cameron Maybin, CF
Nick Hundley, C

Scutaro will bat seventh in the series opener against Milwaukee at Fenway Park on Friday night, as Lowrie is headed to the disabled list with a nagging shoulder injury, according to NESN.com's Tony Lee.

Milwaukee starter Shaun Marcum, a former Blue Jay, is no stranger to the Red Sox from his time in the American League East. The right-hander has made 11 career starts against the Sox, posting a 5-5 record with a 4.38 ERA. He struggled last season against Boston, going 1-3 with a 5.34 ERA in five starts.

Jason Varitek, who will catch Red Sox starter John Lackey and hit ninth, has had some success in the past against Marcum. The switch-hitting catcher has hit Marcum at a .400 clip (4-for-10) in his career.

J.D. Drew returns to the Red Sox lineup in the No. 8 position, and while he's only a .227 (5-for-22) lifetime hitter against Marcum, he does have three home runs off of him.

Both lineups are below, starting with the Red Sox and then the Milwaukee lineup that will square off against Boston starter John Lackey.

Boston
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Carl Crawford, LF
Marco Scutaro, SS
J.D. Drew, RF
Jason Varitek, C

Milwaukee
Rickie Weeks, 2B
Nyjer Morgan, CF
Ryan Braun, LF
Prince Fielder, DH
Casey McGehee, 3B
Corey Hart, RF
Mark Kotsay, 1B
Jonathan Lucroy, C
Craig Counsel, SS

Before North Carolina and Kentucky tip off in Newark, however, VCU will look to continue what has been an improbable run through the NCAA tournament when they square off with heavily favored Kansas in the day’s first game.

What’s at stake? A trip to the Final Four, of course. Two of the teams in play on Sunday will join Butler and UConn in rounding out the national semifinals.

The winner of VCU-Kansas will take on Butler, while UConn waits for the winner of the highly anticipated UNC-Kansas tilt.

No. 11 VCU vs No. 1 Kansas (-11)
Alamo Dome, San Antonio, Texas, 2:20 p.m.
One thing to Watch: VCU has been slaying higher-seeded teams all tournament, but none compare to the team they’ll face on Sunday. If the Rams are going to continue their improbable Cinderella run, they’ll have to do so against the only No. 1 seed left in the tournament. That said, Kansas has struggled some with mid-major programs, something that should give VCU fans a glimmer of hope.

No. 4 Kentucky (-1) vs. No. 2 North Carolina
Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, 4:55 p.m.
One thing to watch: If Kansas is the best team left overall in the tournament, Kentucky and North Carolina are probably the most talented teams. Both teams are young, but they’re both loaded with future NBA players. That’s the type of talent that can will you to wins this time of the year — just ask Ohio State and Duke.

NESN’s college basketball coverage is presented by Bodog.net.

Flash forward 376 days. The Celtics, riding a 14-game win streak, went into Orlando for a Christmas day rematch of last year's Eastern Conference Finals and blew a late lead, by only scoring a measly 15 points.

The Celtics get their first chance to bounce back on Tuesday night when they head to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Starting there, the Celtics will hopefully try to prove that Christmas day was an aberration, not the development of another ugly trend.

That's what happened last year following that Dec. 11 loss. Counting that loss to Philadelphia, the Celtics went 7-9 in their next 16 games. In those seven losses, the C's mustered only an average of 21 points in the game's final stanza.

That ugly 7-9 stretch pretty much set the tone for the rest of the season for the Celtics. Sure, they were doing what they could to rest up for the playoffs, something that's certainly understandable. And insinuating that one poor fourth quarter against the Magic over the weekend will start another poor stretch for the team is reckless — especially when you consider the deck they're playing with right now, injuries and everything considered.

But for a team that has the same exact record at this point that it did last season, it's certainly something to keep an eye on.

As the Celtics approach the midway point of the season, it's also important to note that this could be the point of the season where a team with this much talent gets disinterested, bored even. They know they're a team built for the playoffs, and because of that, they start to take games off, something that is most noticeable down the stretch of games.

When you start to get careless and forget to close out games, though, that's when you start losing. And while it may not seem like much in December, those are the type of games that cost you home-court advantage in the playoffs.

The Celtics, who only had home-court advantage once in four series in last year's playoffs, got by — all the way to Game 7 of the NBA Finals, when it may have finally caught up to them. And it caught up in them in the form of a fourth-quarter collapse in L.A. against the Lakers.

The C's get the Pacers on Tuesday night. It's a game Boston should win. If they play a full four quarters of quality basketball, they'll do so, likely with ease. A sense of urgency now, especially late in the game, could pay dividends for the Celtics later on.

Before making the trek west, though, there’s still some work to be done at Fenway Park, where the Red Sox will close out a four-game series with the Rangers on Sunday afternoon.

The Red Sox won their first game of the second half Saturday night when Kevin Youkilis hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th. Youkilis hit also hit an RBI double to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth off of Cliff Lee, who had dominated the Red Sox all night. 

Helping the Sox’ confidence, left-handed ace Jon Lester will take the mound looking to win his 12th game of the season.

WHEN AND WHERE

Rangers (52-39) at Red Sox (52-39)
Sunday, July 18, 1:35 p.m.
Fenway Park, Boston

HEAD TO HEAD

The Rangers have won three of their last four at Fenway Park.

PITCHING MATCHUP

LHP C.J. Wilson (7-5, 3.35 ERA) vs. LHP Jon Lester (11-3, 2.78 ERA)

It’s a battle of left-handers in the series finale. For the Red Sox, Jon Lester will look to continue another impressive season. Lester was named an All-Star and last worked in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, pitching a scoreless inning. The big lefty was 3-0 in his three final starts before the break, putting up a 1.64 ERA while striking out 22 during that stretch.

Wilson beat the Red Sox on April 22, tossing 6 2/3 scoreless innings and surrendering four hits while striking out two. He’s been up and down all year and comes into Sunday’s start a loser in two of his last three starts.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• The Red Sox win Saturday night was their first all year when trailing after eight innings, improving their record to 1-31 when doing so.
• Pitcher John Lackey made another quality start Saturday night — his 12th — which ties him for the most on the Red Sox with Lester.
• Darnell McDonald has hit safely in 21 of 26 games he’s started against left-handed pitchers.

Rangers

• After giving up a run in the first inning Saturday night, Cliff Lee has now given up 10 first-inning runs in his last 15 starts.
• Ian Kinsler is hitting .349 (15-for-43) during his 10-game hitting streak, which he extended Saturday night with a first-inning single.
• When Nelson Cruz was caught stealing in the second inning, it marked the first time in the last 35 attempts that the Rangers have been caught stealing against the Red Sox.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Right-hander Josh Beckett (back) made his second rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday, throwing 80 pitches, 50 for strikes, in four-plus innings. He allowed three runs on five hits and struck out three. It is not confirmed yet, but Beckett could join the team for the Seattle series, which begins Thursday.
• Right-hander Clay Buchholz (hamstring) pitched 3 2/3 innings
  and allowed two runs in a rehab start Friday for Pawtucket. He is
  expected to return to the Red Sox and start Wednesday’s game at Oakland.
• Catcher Jason Varitek remains sidelined with a broken right foot. He will have the foot scanned Friday and is targeting a return in early August.
• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia had a CT scan Friday that
  showed his broken left foot healing well. He was able to get rid of his
  crutches and put weight on the foot but has to keep a boot on it for up
  to two more weeks.
• Catcher Victor Martinez was put on the DL on June 28 with a
  minimally displaced fracture on the tip of his left thumb. Martinez is
  eligible to return after the All-Star break but will not be activated
  immediately and still may be a week or two from returning.
• Outfielder Jeremy Hermida (broken rib) is rehabbing with Double-A Portland.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury will head to Florida to continue his rehab from a broken rib with the club’s Gulf Coast League affiliate.
• Mike Lowell was eligible to return from the DL last Friday
  but was not with the team. He will receive a cortisone shot on Monday and will make a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday.
• Infielder Jed Lowrie will continue his rehab stint in Pawtucket as he recovers from mononucleosis.
• Righty Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Rangers

• Right-hander Rich Harden is due to return soon from a strained left gluteus muscle.
• Lefty Derek Holland is on the DL with mild left rotator cuff inflammation.
• Righty Eric Hurley is likely out for the year following two surgeries on his left wrist.
• Righty Mark Lowe, acquired in the Cliff Lee trade, is out for the year following back surgery.

OUTLOOK

The win Saturday night may have been the biggest of the season for the Red Sox, but it won’t mean much if they can’t capitalize and earn a split of the series Sunday afternoon. With Jon Lester on the mound, they should like their chances, especially against the inconsistent C.J. Wilson opposing him for the Rangers.

With the West Coast trip looming, taking the final two from Texas would send the team out on its longest trip of the year with a little bit of momentum. The trip west could make or break the season, and it will be a lot easier to have a good trip if they can salvage the split Sunday afternoon with the Rangers.

The Sox are looking to rebound from Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Orioles. O's lefty Brian Matusz shut down the Red Sox bats that have been so successful all year long, so they'll be looking to bounce back.

The Red Sox and Rays split a short two-game series last week in Boston.

Daisuke Matsuzaka looks to get revenge after losing his last start to the Rays on June 30.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox(49-33) at Rays (48-33)
Monday, July 5, 7:10 p.m.
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Rays hold a 5-4 advantage in the nine meetings between the two clubs this year.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (5-3 4.50 ERA) vs. RHP Matt Garza (9-5, 4.08 ERA)

Matsuzaka turned in the type of game you've come to expect from him in his last outing against the Rays. The righty battled some control problems, walking four over six innings of work in that start, and took the loss despite only giving up three earned runs in six innings of work. He's 1-1 in his last three starts, posting a 2.37 ERA in that span.

Garza has won his last two starts, bouncing back nicely from a horrendous start on June 18, when he gave up seven runs without making it out of the second inning against the Marlins. He picked up the win against the Red Sox on June 30, going seven innings and giving up three earned runs.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Red Sox manager Terry Francona is one win shy of 900 for his career, a mark that only eight active managers have reached.
• The Red Sox have a 13-4 record in games in which Daniel Nava has appeared.
• The Sox have won or split six of their last seven series.

Rays

• The Rays are 16-21 since May 23.
• Jason Bartlett is hitting .186 (26-for-140) since May 30.
• James Shields picked up the win on Sunday, but he has allowed 13 earned runs in his last three starts.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Jason Varitek (foot) and Manny Delcarmen (forearm) were placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday.
• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia was placed on the 15-day
  disabled list last Saturday with a fracture in his left foot. He
  suffered the injury when he fouled a ball off his foot the day before.
  He will not put any weight on the foot for 2-3 weeks before being
  re-examined.
• Catcher Victor Martinez was put on the DL on Tuesday with a
  minimally displaced fracture on the tip of his left thumb, suffered
  after taking two foul balls off the thumb during last Sunday's game in
  San Francisco.
• Clay Buchholz suffered a left hamstring strain running the
  bases last Saturday in San Francisco. Manager Terry Francona announced on Sunday that Buchholz will probably have to make a trip to the DL, despite earlier optimism that he wouldn't have to.
• Outfielder Jeremy Hermida was placed on the DL on June 11 after an MRI revealed five fractured ribs, the result of a collision with third baseman Adrian Beltre one week earlier. Hermida is swinging and doing outfield and base running drills.
• An MRI conducted June 9 revealed a new fracture in outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury's
  ribs. Ellsbury, who was placed on the DL on May 28 for the second time
  this year, has been at the Athletes' Performance center in Arizona for
  three weeks but has yet to resume baseball activities.
• Josh Beckett is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon as he works his way back from a lower back strain.
• Infielder Jed Lowrie remains on the DL after coming down
  with mononucleosis during spring training. He is playing in extended
  spring training games.
• Righty Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Rays

• Reliever J.P. Howell is out for the season after left shoulder surgery.

OUTLOOK

The Red Sox head into St. Pete looking to distance themselves from the Rays who are currently a half-game behind the Red Sox. After three with the Rays, the Sox will head to Toronto to finish out the first half of the season.

Boston will be looking to get the offense going again after being held down by Matusz and the Orioles on Sunday. The Sox will look to have the same kind of success they had last time in Tampa Bay when they swept the Rays in a three-game series May 24-26.

The Red Sox sit just a half-game out of first place in the AL East with a 49-32 record at the halfway mark. With all of the injury problems they’ve had to overcome, to be on a 98-win pace is nothing short of remarkable.

They’ll look to turn the page on the first 81 games with a win and a sweep of the Orioles at Fenway Park.

John Lackey will get the ball with a chance to send the Red Sox to Tampa riding a three-game win streak.

WHEN AND WHERE

Orioles (24-56) at Red Sox (49-32)
Sunday, July 4, 1:35 p.m. (NESN)
Fenway Park, Boston

HEAD TO HEAD

The Red Sox hold a 6-5 series advantage this season.

PITCHING MATCHUP

LHP Brian Matusz (3-9, 4.30 ERA) vs. RHP Jon Lester (9-3, 4.46 ERA)

Lackey’s been somewhat up and down for the Red Sox this year, but he’s still got nine wins to his record and can make it double digits on Sunday. He’s been good lately too, going 2-0 with a 4.12 ERA in his last three starts.

While Matusz’ 3-9 record isn’t too pretty, it’s not a great reflection of the way he’s pitched for the O’s this year. He’s 0-7 in his last 10 starts but, at times, has been a victim of poor run support.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Red Sox manager Terry Francona is one win shy of 900 for his career, a mark that only eight active managers have reached.
• The Red Sox have a 49-32 record after 81 games, the 13th straight season they’ve hit the halfway mark with a winning record. 
• The Sox have won 34 of their last 45 games against the Orioles.

Orioles

• The Orioles are 9-17 under interim manager Juan Samuel, who was ejected in the eighth inning of Saturday’s game.
• The O’s have committed 14 errors in their last 12 games.
• Ty Wigginton has homered as a first baseman, a second baseman and a third baseman, becoming the first player in the majors to do so this year.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Jason Varitek (foot) and Manny Delcarmen (forearm) were placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday.
• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia was placed on the 15-day disabled list last Saturday with a fracture in his left foot. He suffered the injury when he fouled a ball off his foot the day before. He will not put any weight on the foot for 2-3 weeks before being re-examined.
• Catcher Victor Martinez was put on the DL on Tuesday with a minimally displaced fracture on the tip of his left thumb, suffered after taking two foul balls off the thumb during last Sunday’s game in San Francisco.
• Clay Buchholz suffered a left hamstring strain running the bases last Saturday in San Francisco. He will not pitch this weekend, but the Red Sox are hopeful he will return to the rotation by Monday or Tuesday.
• Outfielder Jeremy Hermida was placed on the DL on June 11 after an MRI revealed five fractured ribs, the result of a collision with third baseman Adrian Beltre one week earlier. Hermida is swinging and doing outfield and base running drills.
• An MRI conducted June 9 revealed a new fracture in outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury‘s ribs. Ellsbury, who was placed on the DL on May 28 for the second time this year, has been at the Athletes’ Performance center in Arizona for three weeks but has yet to resume baseball activities.
• Josh Beckett is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon as he works his way back from a lower back strain.
• Infielder Jed Lowrie remains on the DL after coming down with mononucleosis during spring training. He is playing in extended spring training games.
• Righty Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Orioles

• Second baseman Brian Roberts is out until at least mid-July. He’s played in just four games all season.
• Outfielder Luke Scott was placed on the disabled list Thursday with a strained left hamstring.
• Pitcher Mike Gonzalez is out until mid-July with a strained left shoudler.
• Outfielder Felix Pie is on his way back from a back injury, but he’s not expected to be ready for this weekend’s series.

OUTLOOK

A big three-game series with the Rays looms, but the Red Sox need to make sure they take care of business and finish off the sweep of the Orioles before heading down south to Tampa.

With the well-documented injury problems plaguing the Red Sox, they need to build up wins whenever they can. Finishing off the sweep of the lowly Orioles would be a good way to capitalize on that.