Oct 8, 2008 - 1:25 PM
0 shoutsBy Mike Petraglia PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Red Sox decided to keep matters simple when announcing their pitching rotation for the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Daisuke Matsuzaka, an 18-game winner this regular season, will start the series opener Friday and will be followed by Josh Beckett in Game Two.
When the series shifts to Fenway Park next Monday, Jon Lester will start Game Three. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield gets the nod for Game Four, his first appearance in this postseason.
Matsuzaka, Beckett and Lester will follow in order for Games Five, Six and Seven if necessary.
"The reasoning is actually pretty simple," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Wednesday. "It gives people rest, not too much rest, not too little. It's probably the best way where we don't have one guy going on eight (days' rest)."
Beckett, who struggled with an oblique strain and was limited to just one start in the final two weeks of the season, will benefit from the extended format that provides for an extra day of rest between Games Four and Five.
"Rest at this time of year is huge, and we'll take advantage of it while trying not to give too much," Francona said.
Matsuzaka started Game Two of the AL Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Japanese righthander did not get a decision in Boston's 7-5 victory, allowing three runs and five hits in five innings.
Beckett started Game Three but struggled through five innings, surrendering four runs, nine hits and four walks in Boston's 5-4 extra-innings loss.
The lefthanded Lester has not allowed an earned run in his two postseason starts covering 14 innings.
Matsuzaka led the Red Sox with an 18-3 record this season, while Lester went 16-6. Beckett fought injuries and finished just 12-10 while Wakefield was 10-11.
Wakefield was Francona's choice for Game Four over Paul Byrd, who likely will make the ALCS roster as a long reliever out of the bullpen.
"We considered everything, but when it comes down to what serves the ballclub best, Byrd can probably be used more flexibly out of the bullpen," said Francona, who said he prefers keeping Wakefield pitching to personal catcher Kevin Cash.
Before boarding a plane bound for St. Petersburg, Florida, the Red Sox went through an hour-long workout at Fenway Park on Wednesday.
