The Red Sox announced Monday that Daisuke Matsuzaka will be the opening day pitcher for Boston, on March 25, vs. Oakland, in Tokyo.

Jon Lester will start the next day. The Red Sox will then fly to California. Matsuzaka and Lester will likely start the third and fourth games of the season, in Oakland.

Clay Buchholz and Tim Wakefield will pitch the two exhibition games in Japan

The Red Sox also cut four players from big league camp.

Boston sent pitchers Craig Hansen and Lincoln Holdzkom, catcher George Kottaras, and first baseman-outfielder Chris Carter to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Boston has 35 active players in big league camp.

See the list below:

David Aardsma
Josh Beckett
Craig Breslow
Clay Buchholz
Bartolo Colon
Bryan Corey
Manny Delcarmen
Jon Lester
Javy Lopez
Daisuke Matsuzaka
Hidecki Okajima
Jonathan Papelbon
Kyle Snyder
Julian Tavarez
Mike Timlin
Tim Wakefield
CATCHERS
Dusty Brown
Kevin Cash
Jason Varitek
INFIELD
Sean Casey
Alex Cora
Keith Ginter
Mike Lowell
Jed Lowrie
Julio Lugo
David Ortiz
Dustin Pedroia
Joe Thurston
Kevin Youkilis
OUTFIELD
Coco Crisp
J.D. Drew
Jacoby Ellsbury
Bobby Kielty
Brandon Moss
Manny Ramirez

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