The Boston Red Sox have officially lined up their rotation for the American League Divisional Series against the Wild Card Rays. Jon Lester will be the first pitcher to take the mound when he starts Game 1 Friday afternoon, reports Tim Britton of the Providence Journal.
ALDS 2013: Jon Lester to start Game 1 vs. Rays
Lester will be followed by John Lackey, Clay Buchholz and Jake Peavy in the rotation.
Jim Rogash
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Lester had a down year in 2012, finishing the year with a 4.82 ERA as the Red Sox wound up last in the AL East with a 69-93 record. But just like the Red Sox, Lester bounced back in 2013. He finished the year leading the team with 33 starts and was the only Boston pitcher to toss over 200 innings.
Lester earned a 3.75 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 2013, but was especially good over the last third of the season. In his last 10 starts, Lester held opponents to a 593 OPS while posting a 2.19 ERA.
The Red Sox will follow Lester up with John Lackey in Game 2, then Clay Buchholz and mid-season trade acquisition Jake Peavy in Games 3 and 4, respectively.
Ryan Dempster and Felix Doubront, who started 29 and 27 games for the Red Sox, respectively, will both be left out of the postseason rotation.
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