BOSTON — Boston pitcher Jon Lester has been picked to start opening day for the Red Sox on April 5 in Detroit.
New Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine made the announcement Monday.
Additional Photos
READY TO GO: Boston Red Sox pitchers Josh Beckett, right, and Jon Lester watch from the dugout rail during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins on Monday in Fort Myers, Fla. Lester will start opening day, with Beckett lining up in the rotation to take the mound in the home opener at Fenway Park. AP photo
The 28-year-old also started Boston’s first game of the 2011 season in Texas. He will be the first left-hander to start on opening day in back-to-back years for the Red Sox since Mel Parnell started three straight openers from 1952-54.
A two-time All-Star who was selected by the Red Sox in the second round of the 2002 amateur draft, Lester is 76-34 with a 3.53 ERA and 894 strikeouts in six seasons.
Lester will oppose Detroit’s Justin Verlander.
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