Dustin Pedroia will be in the lineup today and playing second base in Boston's exhibition game with Pittsburgh. The concern over his abdominal muscle strain appears to be cautionary.

Clay Buchholz gets the start today, followed by Jonathan Papelbon.

The latest Baseball America just reached the mailbox. BA predicts that the Red Sox will win the American League East, followed by the Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays and Orioles (in that order).

According to BA: Boston "didn't have the splashiest off-season, but the Red Sox still have the most balanced and best overall team ..."

The publication also declares that Jon Lester will be Boston's "newest all-star," having out-pitched Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka to become Boston's ace ..."

I don't know about the ace part. If Beckett is healthy, he still is the prime guy in big games.

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