The Sox were swept in three games by Detroit in a series that included two walk-offs and a 10-0 blowout win for the Tigers.
But there were some positive developments regarding Boston's pitching staff this past week.
Jon Lester, who has gotten off to slow starts the past couple seasons, went toe-to-toe with reigning AL MVP Justin Verlander for the first six-plus innings in the Sox' season opener on Thursday. The left-hander surrendered just one run in seven frames, giving up six hits and three walks while striking out four.
Lefty Franklin Morales stifled batters in his 2 2/3 innings of work out of the pen, giving up no runs on one hit while fanning three. Fellow reliever Vicente Padilla, meanwhile, tossed four scoreless innings Sunday — allowing just two baserunners and striking out four — in Boston's 11-inning loss.
Left-hander Felix Doubront makes his 2012 debut on Monday, when the 24-year-old takes on the Toronto Blue Jays. Doubront started three games as a rookie in 2010, but all 11 of his appearances last season came out of the bullpen.
Former setup man Daniel Bard is slated to make his first career major league start on Tuesday. The flamethrower was drafted in 2006 out of UNC as a starting pitcher, but he's pitched exclusively as a reliever since 2008.