The Toronto Blue Jays will send a split squad down from Dunedin to face Jon Lester and the Red Sox in the first and only Grapefruit League game between the two teams.
A scheduled contest last week was rained out.
Second baseman Dustin Pedroia was expected to be back for Boston, but he will take another day off. He hurt his wrist in a dive against Minnesota on Tuesday night. Also, Mike Lowell may get another game in at first base.
The Sox will be going for their first three-game winning streak since March 11-14. They have recorded back-to-back 6-4 wins over Pittsburgh and Florida.
WHEN AND WHERE
1:05 p.m. ET, March 26, 2010
City of Palms Park, Fort Myers, Fla.
RECORDS
Blue Jays (9-9)
Red Sox (11-12)
HEAD TO HEAD
A deluge that dumped inches of rain on southwest Florida canceled the first scheduled game between Toronto and Boston on Sunday. The Sox were 11-7 against the Jays in 2009.
LINEUPS
Lineups will be posted as soon as they become available.
PITCHING MATCHUP
LHP Brett Cecil (0-0, 11.57 ERA) vs. LHP Jon Lester (0-2, 5.54 ERA)
Two lefties with a shaky start to their springs square off, although it appears as if Lester turned the corner Sunday against the Astros.
Two of the three runs he gave up were on a wind-aided two-run homer. Also, Lester entered the start having struck out seven and walking five in his first three starts, but he fanned seven and did not issue a free pass to Houston hitters.
Cecil will be making his first start of the spring. He was out after suffering a cut thumb on his throwing hand.
STAT SHEET
Red Sox
Outfielder Jeremy Hermida was 2-for-2 with a walk Thursday and is now hitting .432 (16-for-37).
Reliever Scott Atchison‘s scoreless inning Thursday gave him a 1.86 ERA in eight Grapefruit League games.
Tim Wakefield has three wins this spring. The other five starters have combined for two.
Blue Jays
Outfielder Jose Bautista is 15-for-30 with three home runs and five doubles.
Second baseman Aaron Hill has 10 walks against just one strikeout.
Projected No. 1 starter Ricky Romero is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA.
BLACK AND BLUE
Red Sox
Pedroia had a small wrap on his injured left wrist Thursday but took batting practice. Manager Terry Francona originally said he will be in the lineup against Toronto, but early Friday morning it was discovered that Pedroia would be resting for one more day.
Pitcher Boof Bonser got through agility drills OK on Thursday as he wrestles with a groin issue. He will throw a side session Saturday.
Super sub Bill Hall fouled a ball of his leg Thursday but said he is fine and that there was no swelling.
Blue Jays
Starter Brandon Morrow was scheduled to play catch this week. He has been sidelined with a sore shoulder.
Reliever Jesse Carlson was set for a bullpen session Wednesday. A sore left knee has limited him to one inning.
OVERHEARD
“If that was 100 percent, I’d be in trouble.”
–Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka, when pointing out that he was not quite at full strength in his spring training debut Thursday
PRESS BOX
Red Sox
Some Marlins reporters check in on former Florida third baseman Mike Lowell.
Jonathan Papelbon likes those Red Sox-Yankee marathons.
Blue Jays
A look at old friend Alex Gonzalez, the new shortstop for the Jays.
The infielders are getting healthyat the right time.
MLB
I’ll trade you my Joe Torre for your Nolan Ryan. On baseball cards, smiling and longevity.
A day old, but does Milton Bradley news ever really age? Nah, it’s always fun.
OUTLOOK
While it’s often just about getting work in and expanding pitch counts this time of year, having a dominant start somewhere would be a nice thing for Jon Lester. He flirted with one Sunday, but the final results were not quite there.
Lester is 4-3 with a 3.03 ERA against Toronto in regular-season play. Barring any struggles or physical issues, he should throw about six innings and get one more minor league start before the regular season begins.
He’ll be going in front of what is expected to be the 100th straight sellout at City of Palms Park.
