The Portland Sea Dog made the expected announcement that Junichi Tazawa will be the starting pitched in Thursday's season-opener against Connecticut, at Hadlock Field at 6 p.m.

Tazawa, 22, is the much-hyped right-hander from Japan. He bypassed the draft into the Japanese professional league and signed a three-year, $3.3-million contract with the Red Sox.

Some of other Red Sox prospects are expected to play Thursday in Portland, including first baseman Lars Anderson, shortstop Argenis Diaz, center fielder Josh Reddick and catcher Mark Wagner.

And now, courtesy of the media reports out of Boston, here is tonight's Red Sox lineup:

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
DavidOrtiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Rocco Baldelli, RF
Jason Bay, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jed Lowrie, SS
Jason Varitek, C
(Jon Lester, P)

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