Josh Beckett, Jon Lester to Make First Starts of Spring When Red Sox Open Schedule This Weekend

Bobby Valentine and the Red Sox coaching staff will get a look at a handful of players on Thursday when the Sox take on the Twins in a "B" game in Fort Myers. They'll have to wait until this weekend, though, to get a look at everyone else.

Boston open its spring slate of games "officially" on Saturday in a doubleheader against a pair of Boston-area colleges. Jon Lester will get the ball for the spring opener at 2:30 p.m. against Northeastern. That night, it will be Felix Doubront who makes the start against Boston College in a game against Boston College. Junichi Tazawa will also make an appearance against the Eagles. That game will begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on NESN.

Sunday marks the spring debut of Josh Beckett, who will make the start in the Sox' Grapefruit League opener against the crosstown rival Twins. That game will also be on NESN with first pitch from the Fort slated for 1:30 p.m.

The Sox are back on NESN on Monday night, as well, when Clay Buchholz returns to the mound for another Mayor's Cup showdown with the Twins.

Some of the scheduled pitchers for those games are listed below.

Saturday

Red Sox versus Northeastern — 2:30 p.m.
Jon Lester

Red Sox versus Boston College — 7 p.m. (NESN)
Felix Doubront
Junichi Tazawa

Sunday

Red Sox versus Twins — 1:30 p.m. (NESN)
Josh Beckett
Andrew Miller
Mark Melancon

Monday

Red Sox at Twins — 7 p.m. (NESN)
Clay Buchholz
Vicente Padilla

Tuesday

Red Sox versus Orioles — 1:30 p.m. 
Daniel Bard