The Red Sox and Yankees open up a three-game set at Fenway Park on Wednesday night, and it gives the Sox another chance to continue its dominance of both New York and its starter, CC Sabathia.
The big left-hander has been virtually unhittable against the rest of the major leagues, but he has struggled mightily against the Sox this year. He enters the opener with an 0-4 record to go along with a 7.20 ERA against Boston this season. Against the rest of the league, Sabathia is 17-3 with a 2.40 ERA.
He'll face a Red Sox lineup that will be heavy on right-handed bats. Marco Scutaro is in the two-hole for Terry Francona's bunch, and Darnell McDonald will get the start in right field and hit ninth.
Meanwhile, Derek Jeter returns to the Yankees lineup after missing Tuesday's game in Baltimore. The New York shortstop suffered a bruised kneecap when he fouled a ball off of himself over the weekend. Alex Rodriguez, who continues to battle a thumb injury, is once again out of Joe Girardi's starting nine.
John Lackey takes the hill for the Red Sox in search of his eighth win in nine decisions. Lackey threw six innings and gave up three runs on his way to beating the Yankees at Fenway Park on Aug. 6.
Boston
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Marco Scutaro, SS
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Jed Lowrie, 3B
Carl Crawford, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Darnell McDonald, RF
New York
Brett Gardner, LF
Derek Jeter, SS
Curtis Granderson, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Eric Chavez, 3B
Jorge Posada, DH
Francisco Cervelli, C
