Scutaro is a .304 (7-for-23) hitter against New York Yankees starter A.J. Burnett. Jed Lowrie, who has been bothered by a shoulder ailment, is just 2-for-12 (.167) with four strikeouts.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona indicated Tuesday that Lowrie might be back in there at shortstop against Burnett, but has altered that plan, either because of the matchups or due to the shoulder.

Scutaro is one of a handful of Boston starters with success against Burnett. Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia and Carl Crawford each have averages over .300 against the right-hander. David Ortiz, who drew some ire from Yankees manager Joe Girardi for his dramatic bat flip following a home run in the series opener, is a .256 (10-for-39) hitter against Burnett, but three of his hits were home runs and five of them doubles.

One noteworthy development in the lineup is the insertion of Jason Varitek with knuckleballer Tim Wakefield on the mound. Jarrod Saltalamacchia had been handling the bulk of the catching duties with Wakefield pitching this year. Also, Varitek will probably be behind the plate Thursday catching Josh Beckett, giving the veteran catcher back-to-back games in oppressive heat.

Below are the complete batting orders for both Boston and New York.

Red Sox
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

New York
Derek Jeter, SS
Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Brett Gardner, LF
Eduardo Nunez, 3B
Francisco Cervelli, C

Lowrie, who was battling an illness that has circulated through much of the clubhouse, was given Wednesday off when the team lost in Toronto. If offered up an opportunity for Jose Iglesias to get his first major league start at shortstop.

Lowrie has yet to face Yankees right-hander Bartolo Colon. He hopes to find more success than some of his teammates, many of whom have struggled against Colon.

The rest of the Boston batting order is a combined 16-for-100 (.160) against Colon. Leading the way in the futility has been David Ortiz, who is 4-for-39 (.103) with an alarming 15 strikeouts against Colon. Carl Crawford is just 6-for-31 (.194) vs. the righty.

With Clay Buchholz on the mound, here is the complete Red Sox lineup.

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
J.D. Drew, RF
Jed Lowrie, SS
Carl Crawford, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

Here's the New York lineup.

Derek Jeter, SS
Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Jorge Posada, DH
Russell Martin, C
Brett Gardner, LF

Panic, however, is not one of them.

Determined to end their worst start since 1945, the Red Sox hope a change of venue brings a change of momentum in the opener of their three-game set Friday afternoon.

Nothing has come together for a full game for Boston (0-6), which has endured inconsistent pitching, a lack of hitting, some mental lapses and a failure to get breaks while absorbing three-game sweeps at both Texas and Cleveland. The Red Sox are one of two winless teams left in the majors, sharing the AL East basement with reigning division champion Tampa Bay.

"We've got a good team. We've just got to get out of this little funk we're in," third baseman Kevin Youkilis said. "We're frustrated as hell because we never thought we'd be here, but we are here, so you've got to deal with it."

His frustration Thursday came in the form of an 0-for-4 effort that dropped his average to .105 as the Red Sox were limited to four singles in a 1-0 defeat. Boston is batting .181 collectively, though the well-pitched game by starter Jon Lester helped lower the team's ERA to 7.13.

"The slate's not really clean," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "The record is what it is, but I don't want us to have a hangover. We need to pick it up. We're going to play a good team now. We haven't done a very good job to this point. I don't want us to be trying to win for this week because we can't do that."

For their part, the Yankees (4-2) are also looking past Boston's record and fully expect their rivals to regroup and be part of the pennant race in arguably the deepest division in baseball.

"Who cares if they're 0-6 or 6-0?" reliever Joba Chamberlain said. "They're still a talented ballclub. And we know that. We're not looking at their record. We're looking at the talent they're putting on the field that we're going to have to face. We're not playing their record. We're playing their team."

New York took two of three in a rain-shortened series against Minnesota, capped by Thursday's 4-3 victory. Chamberlain, Rafael Soriano and closer Mariano Rivera combined to pitch three scoreless innings for the third time in the team's four wins, helping A.J. Burnett to his second victory.

Soriano bounced back from a poor effort Tuesday when he walked three in the eighth inning of a 5-4 defeat.

"His command was what we were accustomed to seeing, and that was the difference," manager Joe Girardi said.

Phil Hughes (0-1, 11.25 ERA) will try to give that trio a chance to duplicate Thursday's effort after a poor season debut. The right-hander was reached for five runs — four via two homers by Miguel Cabrera – in four innings of a 10-7 defeat to Detroit on Sunday.

Hughes went 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA in four starts and five overall appearances versus Boston last season, with both wins coming at Fenway. He is, however, 1-3 with a 5.70 ERA in six lifetime starts against them.

Red Sox counterpart John Lackey (0-1, 22.09) also is coming off a forgettable performance. He was tagged for nine runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 12-5 defeat to Texas on Saturday.

The right-hander went 1-1 with a 3.20 ERA against the Yankees in 2010 during his first season with the Red Sox. Lackey is 6-8 with a 4.43 ERA in 19 career starts versus New York.

With 7 1/2 games separating the two rivals and the Sox likely on the outs in the 2010 playoffs, these meetings will take on a different tone.

The first of the six head-to-heads takes place Friday night in Yankee Stadium, where Josh Beckett and Andy Pettitte will be on the mound.

Boston is coming off a disappointing 2-4 homestand while New York just split a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yanks own a half-game lead in the American League East.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (84-68) at Yankees (92-61)
Friday, Sept. 24, 7:05 p.m. NESN
Yankee Stadium, Bronx

Live Blog

HEAD TO HEAD

The Yankees have won 16 of the last 22 meetings.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Josh Beckett (5-5, 5.71 ERA) vs. LHP Andy Pettitte (11-2, 2.81 ERA)

Both Beckett and Pettitte have made 19 starts this season, but only Pettitte has found consistent success. Beckett, on the other hand, has only recently managed to get into a bit of a groove.

The Red Sox' right-hander is 2-2 with a 3.31 ERA over a span of five straight quality starts. He has struck out 32 while walking 11 in 32 2/3 innings.

However, Yankee Stadium has been a house of horrors for Beckett. He has made two starts there this year, lasting just 4 2/3 innings in both of them while giving up a total of 12 runs (10 earned).

Overall, Beckett is 1-1 with a 5.24 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP in four career starts at the new stadium. He had a 5.66 ERA at the old place and is 0-3 with a 10.54 ERA in his last five starts vs. New York.

Pettitte returned from a lengthy stint on the disabled list with a strained groin to throw six solid innings at Baltimore five days ago. He allowed a run in six innings at Boston on April 7 in his only meeting this year in the rivalry.

The veteran lefty is 18-9 with a 3.68 ERA lifetime vs. the Sox.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Closer Jonathan Papelbon has struck out at least one batter in eight straight games (18 total).
• Outfielder Josh Reddick has three career home runs, all against Baltimore.
• Catcher Victor Martinez is batting .424 (14-for-33) on his current eight-game hitting streak.

Yankees

• After leading the majors with 51 comeback wins in 2009, the Yankees lead all of baseball with 46 this season.
• Shortstop Derek Jeter has just two errors in his last 83 games at the position dating to June 12.
• New York is 24-2 in games in which second baseman Robinson Cano homers.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Second baseman Dustin Pedroia had season-ending surgery Sept. 3 on his broken left foot. He is expected to be fully healed for spring training.
• Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (ribs) will not resume any baseball-related activities until after the season ends.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron had season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal tear.
• First baseman Kevin Youkilis had successful surgery to repair the torn right adductor muscle on his right hand. He will miss the remainder of the season.
• Left-hander Felix Doubront has pain behind his left clavicle. He will not pitch again this season but hopes to throw a bullpen session before the regular season ends.
• Right-hander Junichi Tazawa underwent Tommy John surgery in March. He is out for the year.

Yankees

• Designated hitter Nick Johnson is out for the year with an inflamed right wrist tendon.
• Right-hander Alfredo Aceves will not return due to a strained lower back.
• Left-hander Damaso Marte is on the 60-day DL with left shoulder inflammation.

OUTLOOK

The Sox looked listless at times during the homestand. Perhaps the sight of pinstripes can inspire them to take it up another level and finish the season strong.

After taking the opener of a three-game series in Detroit, the Sox dropped the next two in dismal fashion. They blew a five-run lead and eventually lost in extra innings Saturday before the bats went quiet in Sunday’s 5-1 setback.

The pair of losses drops Boston back to .500 and its 7 1/2-game deficit in the American League East matches a season high.

To make matters worse, the Sox will have to attempt to solve Phil Hughes on Monday. Hughes has been the most dominant starter in the AL thus far. Daisuke Matsuzaka makes his fourth start of the year for Boston.

WHEN AND WHERE

Red Sox (19-19) vs. Yankees (24-13)
Monday, May 17, 7 p.m.
Yankee Stadium, New York

HEAD TO HEAD

The Yankees have won 13 of the last 16 meetings.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-1, 6.35 ERA) vs. RHP Phil Hughes (5-0, 1.38 ERA)

Matsuzaka put it all together in his last start after struggling through parts of his first two. In an uncharacteristically clean outing, he struck out nine and did not walk a batter in seven innings of a 6-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The righty yielded a run on just three hits, relying heavily on an improved fastball that consistently found its spot.

Matsuzaka is 3-3 with a 5.49 ERA against the Yankees. He allowed a run in seven innings in his only previous start at the new Yankee Stadium.

Although it is early, Hughes is an early front-runner for the AL Cy Young Award. He is one of five hurlers with five wins, and leads the junior circuit in ERA, WHIP (0.92) and opponents’ batting average (.165).

LINEUPS

TBA

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Boston has at least one pinch-hit in four straight games and leads the majors with a .417 (10-for-24) average in such situations.
• Right fielder J.D. Drew had an eight-game hitting streak snapped Sunday. He was 11-for-28 (.393) during the hot stretch.
• Red Sox starters have thrown at least six innings in seven straight games.

Yankees

• Sunday’s loss was just the second in 23 games in which the Yankees led after six innings.
• Entering Sunday, backup catcher Francisco Cervelli led the majors with a .769 (10-for-13) batting average and an .813 on-base percentage with runners in scoring position.
• Third baseman Alex Rodriguez is 1-for-16 with six strikeouts against Matsuzaka.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Starter Josh Beckett got through his side session Saturday without an issue and will start Tuesday in New York. Beckett, whose start Friday was scratched due to back spasms, threw long tosses when the team arrived in Detroit.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron has gone 4-for-13 with a home run and four walks in a rehab stint at Triple-A Pawtucket. Cameron, out since April 18 with an abdominal strain, was hoping to return when the team went to New York, but may still be a few days away.
• Left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, also out since April 18 with fractured ribs, is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Pawtucket on Monday.
• Righty Boof Bonser allowed two hits in four scoreless innings Wednesday in his fourth rehab start for Pawtucket.

Yankees

• Right fielder Nick Swisher has been in and out of the starting lineup due to a sore left biceps. He is day-to-day.
• Center fielder Curtis Granderson is on the disabled list with a strained left groin, and not expected to return until around June 1.
• Designated hitter Nick Johnson has been on the DL since May 7 with a sore right wrist. There is no timetable for him to return.
• Righty Alfredo Aceves is on the DL with lower back stiffness.
• Reliever Chan Ho Park could return to the team this series. He has been out with right hamstring tightness since mid-April.

OUTLOOK

Matsuzaka was as efficient as he has ever been against Toronto the last time out, but the Jays are free swingers. The Yankees are anything but, and their patience always presents a problem for a pitcher like Matsuzaka, who never gives in and is not immune to nibbling.

If the righty can somehow duplicate his effort against Toronto and limit the base runners, he could give the Sox a much-needed boost. Whether or not Boston gets much against Phil Hughes is another story altogether.

Following a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Sox opened a big set with the Yankees by dropping a 10-3 decision. Josh Beckett continued to struggle by giving up nine runs in 5 1/3 innings.

The loss dropped Boston back to .500 and a full six games behind New York in the American League East.

It doesn't get any easier for the Sox, who have to face lefty CC Sabathia on Saturday. Clay Buchholz goes for Boston.

WHEN AND WHERE

Yankees (20-8) vs. Red Sox (15-15)
Saturday, May 8, 3 p.m. (FOX)
Fenway Park, Boston

HEAD TO HEAD

The Yankees have won 12 of the last 14 meetings.

PITCHING MATCHUP

LHP CC Sabathia (4-1, 2.74 ERA) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (3-2, 2.97 ERA)

After two stellar starts, Buchholz had a slightly more uneven effort Monday against the Angels. Fortunately he received plenty of support.

In a 17-8 rout, Buchholz gave up four runs on eight hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. He is 0-1 with a 5.74 ERA in three career starts against the Yankees.

Sabathia is one of four Yankees starts to dominate opponents early on. He is 4-1 with a 1.93 ERA in his last four starts.

The big lefty's only poor outing came in the season opener April 4 at Fenway. In 5 1/3 innings, he gave up five runs on six hits.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• Right fielder J.D. Drew is 14-for-30 (.467) over his last eight games.
• Josh Beckett on Friday became the first pitcher to have as many as nine runs, eight strikeouts and two hit batters in the same game since Jack Coombs did it with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1911.
• David Ortiz and Mike Lowell have combined to go 10-for-26 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in the designated hitter role this month.

Yankees

• New York starters are 17-4 with a 3.15 ERA.
• Right fielder Nick Swisher is 10-for-24 (.417) with four home runs and nine RBIs in his last six games.
• Shortstop Derek Jeter is now in second place on the team's all-time list with 2,165 games played. He has also played 216 against the Red Sox, more than any active player.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury took a day off Friday as he continues to recover from rib/chest injuries. He will resume activity Saturday.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron, out with a sports hernia, may return to play in rehab games after the weekend, according to manager Terry Francona.
• Righty Boof Bonser allowed a run in three innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday.
• Infielder Jed Lowrie has gained four pounds and is combining baseball-related activities with strength and conditioning this week for the first time since he came down with mono in March. Francona said he could be playing games again in about four weeks.

Yankees

• Second baseman Robinson Cano left Friday's game after getting hit by a pitch on the left knee. He will be re-evaluated Saturday.
• Designated hitter Nick Johnson was sent to New York for tests on his right wrist. He is expected to go on the DL.
• Center fielder Curtis Granderson is on the DL with a strained left groin. He is expected to miss the rest of the month.
• Catcher Jorge Posada has missed three straight games with a strained right calf. He remains day-to-day.
• Starting pitcher Andy Pettitte left a start Wednesday after just 77 pitches with left elbow stiffness. An MRI showed some inflammation. The club will use caution as it approaches his next start, scheduled for Tuesday.
• Reliever Chan Ho Park remains on the DL with a right hamstring injury.

OUTLOOK

It is amazing how quickly the highs of a four-game sweep can be washed away, but that's what happened Friday night when the Sox looked overmatched once again.

Another loss Saturday would be a damaging blow and would bury Boston even deeper in the AL East.

Clay Buchholz came through in a similar situation when the Sox needed him last week, putting together one of the best starts of his career. Now would be a great time for him to show up once again.

Boston’s four-game run came at the expense of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, who sauntered out of town after being battered around Fenway by the Sox.

Boston won the four games by a combined margin of 36-16. It showcased power, quality pitching and superlative defense, clicking at the right time with the mighty Bronx Bombers on the horizon.

The Yanks are coming off a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles. They also took two of three at Fenway to start the season.

WHEN AND WHERE

Yankees (19-8) vs. Red Sox (15-14)
Friday, May 7, 7 p.m. (NESN)
Fenway Park, Boston

HEAD TO HEAD

The Yankees have won 11 of the last 13 meetings.

PITCHING MATCHUP

RHP Phil Hughes (3-0, 1.44 ERA) vs. RHP Josh Beckett (1-0, 6.31 ERA)

Beckett seemingly turned a corner after a rough April in his last start Sunday in Baltimore. Although the Red Sox lost in extra innings, Beckett was sharp, giving up two runs on six hits in seven innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter for the first time this year.

Beckett’s crowning career achievement, of course, was his mastery of the Yankees in the 2003 World Series, but he has struggled a bit against the Bronx Bombers of late. In his last five starts vs. New York, Beckett has an ERA of 5.89.

Hughes has quietly been the best Yankees starter. He flirted with a no-hitter in his second start and tossed seven scoreless in his latest, a 12-3 win against Chicago over the weekend.

LINEUPS

STAT SHEET

Red Sox

• The Sox have tallied at least 11 hits in four straight games, their longest such streak since May 2008.
• Of Jeremy Hermida‘s 15 RBIs this season, 14 have come with two outs.
• The 24-game homerless drought that Victor Martinez ended Thursday was his longest since a 60-game stretch between the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Yankees

• With his next game played, shortstop Derek Jeter will move into second on the Yankees’ all-time list ahead of Lou Gehrig. Jeter and Gehrig are tied with 2,163 games played. Mickey Mantle tops the list with 2,401.
• Alex Rodriguez needs one home run to tie Frank Robinson for seventh on the all-time list.
• Earlier this week, Joba Chamberlain became the first Yankee other than Mariano Rivera to record saves in back-to-back games since Juan Acevedo in April 2003.

BLACK AND BLUE

Red Sox

• Left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury took swings in the batting cage for the first time Tuesday and has continued to do so all week as he continues to recover from rib/chest injuries. Ellsbury has been eligible to return from the DL since April 27.
• Center fielder Mike Cameron, out with a sports hernia, has continued to increase the intensity of his workouts. Francona said a plan may be put in place by the end of the week for Cameron to return.
• Righty Boof Bonser is scheduled to begin his second rehab stint with a start for Triple-A Pawtucket in Friday. Bonser struggled to get loose before a start on April 13 and was brought to Boston for tests. He was cleared to resume throwing and recently tossed three simulated innings.
• Infielder Jed Lowrie has gained four pounds and is combining baseball-related activities with strength and conditioning this week for the first time since he came down with mononucleosis in March. Francona said he could be playing games again in about four weeks.

Yankees

• Center fielder Curtis Granderson is on the DL with a strained left groin. He is expected to miss the rest of the month.
• Catcher Jorge Posada has missed two straight games with a strained right calf. He will be a game-time decision.
• Starting pitcher Andy Pettitte left a start Wednesday after just 77 pitches with left elbow stiffness. An MRI showed some inflammation. The club will use caution as it approaches his next start, scheduled for Tuesday.
• Reliever Chan Ho Park remains on the DL with a right hamstring injury.

OUTLOOK

The Sox have been incredibly streaky and inconsistent thus far. Now would be a good time to buck that trend and keep alive this current hot stretch.

A key in the opener will be trying to get to Yankees starter Phil Hughes, who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball so far but has been hammered at Fenway.

In just seven innings at the old ballpark, Hughes has been reached for nine runs.