Red Sox Name Jon Lester World Series Game 1 Starter, Will Oppose St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright

The last time the Red Sox played in a World Series game, Jon Lester was the starter. When the Sox take the field for their latest World Series appearance on Wednesday, Lester will once again get the start.

It was all but assumed, but the Red Sox made it official Monday when manager John Farrell named the left-handed hurler the Game 1 starter.

It will be Lester’s fourth start of the postseason. He’s 2-1 with a 2.33 ERA in 19 1/3 innings pitched. Lester took the loss in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against Detroit where he was outdueled by Max Scherzer despite giving up just one run over 6 1/3 innings. Lester bounced back to win Game 5 in Detroit. He also started the first game of the American League Division Series.

St. Louis will counter with Adam Wainwright in Game 1. The 32-year-old, who has 55 2/3 career playoff innings to his name, is 2-1 this postseason in his three starts with a 1.57 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 23 innings of work.