Red Sox vs. Rockies lineups: Shane Victorino not dead, but starting

After Shane Victorino left Boston's series finale with the Tigers, there may have been some concern that the oft-injured outfielder was once again due to miss some time. Those fears, it seems, were unfounded, as Victorino is back in the starting lineup Tuesday night, batting second as the Sox take on Juan Nicasio and the Colorado Rockies.

Boston Red Sox (45-33)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Shane Victorino, RF
3. Dustin Pedrois, 2B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Mike Napoli, 1B
6. Daniel Nava, LF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Stephen Drew, SS
9. Jose Iglesias, 3B

Colorado Rockies (39-38)

1. Dexter Fowler, CF
2. DJ LeMahieu, 2B
3. Carlos Gonzalez, LF
4. Michael Cuddyer, RF
5. Todd Helton, 1B
6. Wilin Rosario, C
7. Corey Dickerson, DH
8. Nolan Arenado, 3B
9. Jonathan Herrera, SS

Starting Pitcher -- Juan Nicasio

It's a pitching matchup that certainly looks good for the Red Sox right now. Dempster has provided the Sox with five straight quality starts, and Juan Nicasio profiles like a slightly less-stingy Dempster. Generally, that's a pretty great matchup to have--each player likely to give up runs, but with Dempster's worst (at least of late) largely even with Nicasio's best (ditto).

Still, the Red Sox seem to delight in subverting these conventions. And while it's encouraging that Nicasio's numbers come against the NL, and that he's right-handed, there's just no guarantees when the Red Sox come up against mediocre pitching.

Read more Red Sox:

• The Kevin Youkilis trade, one year later
• Shane Victorino providing value in multiple ways
• Ryan Dempster: The model of stability
• Solving the Red Sox closer problem
• Can the Red Sox rotation hold up?