Lester lined up for fourth straight Opening Day start
Lackey, Doubront positioned to follow Red Sox ace in first series of season
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox manager John Farrell confirmed Monday that the way his rotation is currently lined up could well be the way it stays when the season starts.
Lefty ace Jon Lester, on the mound Monday for his Grapefruit League debut, is positioned perfectly to open the season March 31 at Camden Yards against the Orioles. This would be Lester's fourth consecutive Opening Day start.
John Lackey, who pitches Tuesday's home Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, would likely pitch the second game in Baltimore.
Southpaw Felix Doubront, who will work in a Minor League game in Wednesday's team off-day, could slot in as the starter in the finale of the three-game series against the Orioles.
Jake Peavy and Clay Buchholz are the top two candidates to pitch the home opener at Fenway against the Brewers on April 4.
"All things playing out, health and otherwise, that's kind of the way things are rolling," Farrell said of his current rotation order.
Peavy, who is recovering from a laceration of his left index finger sustained in a mishap with a fishing knife, will make his first start of Spring Training on Thursday.
Though Buchholz clearly has the track record and the stuff to be a No. 2 or 3 starter, the Red Sox are being conservative with him because of the shoulder problems he experienced last season.