When Erik Bedard last took a major league mound, he was doing so with the worst offense in baseball attempting to support him. When he makes his Red Sox debut on Thursday night against the Indians, he'll have the best offense in baseball looking to put up some crooked numbers behind him.
Old friend Justin Masterson will oppose him for the Indians. For the former Sox right-hander, it will be his fourth career start against Boston, a club he has had sucess against since being traded to Cleveland in the Victor Martinez deal. Masterson is 2-0 with a 1.25 ERA against the Sox, including a two-hit shutout last June.
He's faced Boston once this year, going 7 2/3 innings on May 23, a game in which he picked up a no-decision after surrendering two runs (one earned) on four hits.
Masterson is notoriously difficult against right-handed hitters, something that the lefty-heavy Red Sox aren't likely concerned about. Thus, Terry Francona is rolling out his standard lineup, although Jason Varitek will catch Bedard's first start.
Boston
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Carl Crawford, LF
Josh Reddick, RF
Jason Varitek, C
Marco Scutaro, SS
Cleveland
Ezequiel Carrera, CF
Jason Kipnis, 2B
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Travis Hafner, DH
Carlos Santana, C
Kosuke Fukudome, RF
Matt LaPorta, 1B
Austin Kearns, LF
Jason Donald, 3B
