Jacoby Ellsbury is back in the lineup after sitting out Tuesday's game with a thumb injury, and will bat leadoff as the Red Sox try to make it five straight series wins.
Boston Red Sox (83-57)
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Shane Victorino, RF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- David Ortiz, DH
- Daniel Nava, LF
- Mike Napoli, 1B
- Stephen Drew, SS
- David Ross, C
- Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Starting Pitcher -- Ryan Dempster
Detroit Tigers (81-58)
- Austin Jackson, CF
- Torii Hunter, RF
- Prince Fielder, 1B
- Victor Martinez, DH
- Andy Dirks, LF
- Don Kelly, 3B
- Omar Infante, 2B
- Alex Avila, C
- Jose Iglesias, SS
Starting Pitcher -- Rick Porcello
This is what you might call the "junker" game of the series. Both Dempster and Porcello have an ERA well above 4.00. And if Porcello's peripherals have been notably better, well, that's kind of been his modus operandi for his career, and it certainly can't help having Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder at the corners given his high ground ball rate.
Jose Igelsias, on the other hand, probably helps.
It's never an easy win with Dempster on the mound these days, sadly enough. But riding high from last night's big win, and with their tendency to score a lot of runs behind him (no, that shouldn't really be a thing, but it shouldn't be for Lackey and somehow is every time), the Sox might be able to outpace the game's most productive offense (now that Detroit's lineup is out and Cabrera-free, that might be easier) and parlay a statement game on Tuesday into a statement series on Wednesday.