By MaureenMullen
CSNNE.com
BOSTONWith Wednesdays rainout and Thursdays scheduled day off, Red Sox manager Terry Francona made some adjustments to his starting rotation.
The Toronto Blue Jays come to Fenway Park for a four-game series starting Friday. Clay Buchholz will start that game, followed by Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka. John Lackey is scheduled to start the first game in Oakland on Tuesday.
Basically, Lackeys missing a turn so we dont have to try to have guys going on a weeks rest, Francona said. Its not perfect for him. But then well try to map it out where it helps him. But, rather than have five guys really pushed back way too much, well take one start, let Lack start the game out in Oakland where hes had a lot of success.
In 16 starts in Oakland, Lackey has a record of 8-4, with a 2.92 ERA. In two very ineffective starts this season, he is 1-1 with a 15.58 ERA, allowing 17 earned runs in 8 23 innings. Francona was asked if the extra time off would give Lackey a chance to work out some of his issues.
I certainly always want guys to work on stuff, he said. But theres a lot that went into the decision. With rain today, day off tomorrow, we have an 11 a.m. game on Monday. This seemed to keep us on somewhat of a pattern where theres some consistency.
Francona said some players will come to the park on Thursday to work out. But, because of the relatively early decision to call the game Wednesday, most of the players were able to get in their required work.
Boston Red Sox
Jed Lowrie, who is hitting .438 (7-for-16), was scheduled to be the starting shortstop Wednesday before the postponement. Asked if the regular season has been an extension of a productive spring training for Lowrie, Francona replied:
Well, he was healthy, Francona said. I actually thought he was a little overaggressive at times this spring. Swung at a lot more balls out of the zone than weve seen. Maybe thats some of it's probably just early spring training. But hes a good hitter. Weve said that were trying to find ways to get him in the game and theres days like today would have been where somebodys got to sit. Just trying to win a game.
Left-hander Dennys Reyes has cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Pawtucket. However, he will first report to the teams training complex in Fort Myers, Fla., to work on some things, said general manager Theo Epstein.
Reyes, who signed with the Sox as a free agent in February, appeared in four games, spanning 1 23innings, before the team designated him for assignment on April 8.
Wednesday's game will be rescheduled for a date in the summer. Tickets for this game can be used then.
Maureen Mullen is on Twitter athttp:twitter.commaureenamullen