Jed Lowrie is taking grounders at short as I write this. he will be starting tonight's game in place of Julio Lugo (normal day off, according to manager Terry Francona)

David Murphy, by the way is batting sixth for the Rangers (Murphy is out on the field talking to Dustin Pedroia right now, before Boston's BP).

Murphy and fellow ex-Boston player, Kason Gabbard, are expected to receive their World Series rings tonight.

On the injury front, Mike Lowell said the pain in his sprained right thumb is lessening, but Lowell has no idea when he might be ready. "As soon as I can hit, I'll have an idea. It's all based off that."

Alexa Cora is shut down indefinitely with his sore elbow. Francona said there was "nothing in the M.R.I that was alarming ... But I'll let Dr. (Thomas) Gill (the Red Sox medical director) use the big words."

Center fielder Alex Cora still feels tightness in his hamstrings.

Now for the lineups:

TEXAS
Kinsler, 2B
Young, SS
Hamilton, CF
Bradley, RF
Blalock, 3B
Murphy, LF
Catalanotto, DH
Laird, C
Broussard, 1B
(Mendoza, P)

BOSTON
Ellsbury, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Ortiz, DH
Ramirez, LF
Youkilis, 3B
Drew, RF
Varitek, C
Casey, 1B
Lowrie, SS
(Matsuzaka, P)

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