One of baseball's hottest rivalries will kick off the start of the 2013 Major League Baseball season Monday as the New York Yankees take on the Boston Red Sox at Yankees Stadium.
The Yankees are entering the season with the return of some familiar faces and the absence of some old ones, with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera returning from injuries that sidelined them last season. However, Mark Teixera, (wrist) Alex Rodriguez (hip) and Curtis Granderson (forearm) will be missing from the starting lineup, each of them having had offseason injuries that will sideline them for a month or more. Jeter will also miss Opening Day as he continues to heal from his ankle injury that took him out of the ALCS last season.
In addition, Russell Martin and Nick Swisher departed in free agency last season.
Still, the defending AL East champions have some pop in their lineup with Robinson Cano, newly-signed Kevin Youkilis--a former Red Sox standout--and Ichiro Suzuki.
The Red Sox, who finished dead last in the AL East last year at 69-93, come in with a new coach, John Farrell, and a new, moderately priced lineup of Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, Jonny Gomes, Ryan Dempster and Joel Hanrahan after jettisoning Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford last summer.
Jon Lester, who threw for a career-worst 9-14 win-loss record last season with a 4.82 ERA and 166 strikeouts, will be taking the mound for the Red Sox while the Yankees counter with C.C. Sabathia, who finished 15-6 with a 3.38 ERA last season with 197 strikeouts.
Lineups
Boston Red Sox
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, Centerfield
2. Shane Victorino, Right Field
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2nd Baseman
4. Mike Napoli, 1st Baseman
5. Will Middlebrooks, 3rd Baseman
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Catcher
7. Jonny Gomes, DH
8. Jackie Bradley, Left Field
9. Jose Iglesias, Shortstop
New York Yankees
1. Brett Gardner, Centerfield
2. Eduardo Nunez, Shortstop
3. Robinson Cano, 2nd Baseman
4. Kevin Youkilis, 1st Baseman
5. Vernon Wells, Left Field
6. Ben Francisco, DH
7. Ichiro Suzuki, RF
8. Jayson Nix, 3rd Baseman
9. Francisco Cervelli, Catcher
Pitching Matchup
Jon Lester (2012 record: 9-14, 4.82 ERA, 166 Strikeouts)
Vs.
CC Sabathia (2012 record: 15-6, 3.38 ERA, 197 Strikeouts)
Monday, April 1, 2013
Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
Time: 1:05 p.m. EST
TV Channel: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com