Josh Beckett Looks to Lay Thumb Fears to Rest as Red Sox, Tigers Face Off in Rematch

If losing closer Andrew Bailey to a thumb injury the day before the season began wasn’t nerve-wracking enough, Josh Beckett also confirmed this week that his thumb has been giving him trouble for more than a year.

Beckett insists that the thumb issue isn’t anything out of the ordinary, and he’s ready to go. Spring training would seem to back him up — he allowed just two earned runs over the 19 innings he pitched.

But Saturday afternoon’s game will do a lot to show how his performance matches his prognostication.

Beckett has had mixed success (3-2, 2.50 ERA in six starts) against the Tigers, who have been picked by many to dominate in the American League this year. After opening their season with a win behind ace Justin Verlander, Detroit will lean on its bats and right-hander Doug Fister to carry the team today.

The Red Sox aren’t shaking things up too much in their second game of the year, with the same lineup as Opening Day.

Check out the lineups for Saturday.

Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Ryan Sweeney, RF
Cody Ross, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Mike Aviles, SS

Josh Beckett, P

Tigers
Austin Jackson, CF
Brennan Boesch, RF
Miguel Cabrera, 3B
Prince Fielder, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Alex Avila, C
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Andy Dirks, DH
Ryan Raburn, 2B

Doug Fister, P