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Justin Masterson

Justin Masterson hastily packed Wednesday as Meryl, his wife of almost six months, put into words what he could not.

"Your dream is coming true," she told him.

Indeed. Masterson, the Portland Sea Dogs' ace, is going to The Show. He will start for the Boston Red Sox today at Fenway Park against the Los Angeles Angels.

With the Red Sox starting rotation debilitated by a flu bug, Masterson will take the place of Jon Lester, who filled in Wednesday on short notice for Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is sick.

Red Sox ace Josh Beckett was scratched Tuesday because of the flu.

Masterson, 23, a second-round draft pick in 2006, has been dominant in his four starts with the Sea Dogs this year. He is 1-0 with a 0.95 ERA, striking out 23 in 19 innings.

Masterson was scheduled to start tonight's game at Hadlock Field. The Sea Dogs now list their starter as "TBA." Masterson learned the news late Wednesday afternoon.

"I'm just real excited. It's hard to put into words," he said. "I just want to put together a quality performance (today)."

To do that, Masterson will have to use his sinking fastball. He's been lights out when it's working, like when he came to Portland last July and went 4-0 (1.42 ERA) in his first six starts. But the sinker failed him in his last four starts of 2007 (0-3, 10.42).

This year Masterson has it working again. He also has improved his slider and change-up, but knows what to do today.

"To be successful, I have to establish the sinker and put that in their heads," he said. "And then I go from there."

Masterson, like other prospects before him, has been prepped for a day like today. In the offseason, Masterson attended an exclusive camp for Red Sox rookies on the verge of making it to the big leagues. He then began spring training with the major league club.

But no one figured Masterson would get the call so soon.

Several factors came into play. The only starting pitchers on the 40-man roster in the minor leagues are David Pauley and Devern Hansack. Pauley pitched Tuesday in place of Beckett, and Hansack is hurt.

Kyle Snyder is back in Triple-A, but he pitched four innings Monday for Pawtucket. Sox reliever Julian Tavarez has been a spot starter, but he pitched 12/3 innings Tuesday.

Boston returned reliever Craig Hansen to Pawtucket to make room on the major-league 25-man roster.

"(Masterson's) future is very bright. Hopefully we'll get a glimpse," Red Sox Manager Terry Francona told the media after Wednesday night's game.

Masterson will become the seventh Sea Dogs starting pitcher to begin a season in Portland and make his major league debut in Fenway the same year. The others are Abe Alvarez, Jonathan Papelbon, Pauley, Kason Gabbard, Hansack and Clay Buchholz.

Masterson's wife will be in attendance today. He did not know if his parents would make it in from Beaver Creek, Ohio.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com