For those with tickets for tonight’s game, they will be honored whenever the team announces this new date.
As for the rotation, tonight’s scheduled starter — John Lackey — will be skipped a turn. Clay Buchholz will go Friday, Josh Beckett on Saturday, Jon Lester on Sunday, Daisuke Matsuzaka on Monday and then Lackey on Tuesday in Oakland, where he has had some success.
While Lackey loses a turn, this was probably the best solution in order to keep as many guys as close to on schedule as possible. There is a day off Thursday. This way, Buchholz and Beckett have five day’s rest, Lester has four and Matsuzaka seven, which he could use. Lackey, too, could benefit from a quality side session or two.
For those interested, here was the lineup posted in the clubhouse:
Carl Crawford, LF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
J.D. Drew, RF
Jed Lowrie, SS
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
The notable aspect is Lowrie in at shortstop with a right-hander on the mound. When asked the reason for that, Terry Francona was blunt.
“He’s hitting about .480,” he said, although Lowrie is at .438. “We don’t have a lot of guys hitting .480.”
A couple of other small notes. Dennys Reyes cleared waivers and will head to Florida to get in a little more work before likely going to Pawtucket. Matt Albers, on the disabled list with a lat strain, threw long toss today and is on target to return when he is eligible in about a week.
Look for more on how the Red Sox will handle this time off, and check back for more love from the live blog on Friday when the Toronto Blue Jays invade Fenway Park.
3:10 p.m.: The game has been rained out. Forgive me for thinking they might give it a shot. I guess the stuff coming on later tonight is supposed to be pretty intense, so that caused them to look past the window.
No new dates or anything like that has been announced. We will find out what this means for the Red Sox rotation going forward, and get right back to you.
For those of you looking for a good laugh, just read my last post. A meteorologist, I am not.
3:05 p.m.: We have our window, ladies and gentlemen. The rain may slow down around 6 p.m. and stay that way through 8 p.m. or so, according to the latest hourly forecast.
So, for now, all systems go. The lineups should be over shortly. Sit tight, stay warm, keep dry. Or is it keep warm, stay dry?
2:10 p.m.: OK, about to drive on in to the park and there are no updates from the Red Sox regarding the weather.
According to the latest hourly forecast, there will be a slowing down in the late afternoon before the chances for rain increase around game time. If that second wave is not as extreme as we thought, they may try to get this one going at some point.
If not, you can be sure they will wait it out as long as they can.
11:06 a.m.: As anyone in Boston with a pulse knows by now, it’s raining out. It should remain heavy throughout the afternoon.
Tonight, the chance of rain does decrease, so it might be one of those waiting games to see if a window emerges. I’ll be heading to the park in a few hours and will pass along all the updates from there, so check back as often as you can.
8 a.m.: Rain is in the forecast Wednesday when the Red Sox host the Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of a three-game set.
With the way things are going for Boston, perhaps an extra day off can help.
After their second straight loss to the Rays on Tuesday night, the Red Sox dropped to 2-9, the worst record in the majors. If the rain allows for it, they will try to get win No. 3 behind John Lackey, who has been roughed up out of the gate.
Lackey got the win against the New York Yankees in the home opener last Friday, but he gave up six runs in five innings. His ERA sits at 15.58. The righty is 11-4 against Tampa Bay.
James Shields goes for the Rays.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Check the live blog early and often for weather updates.
