Red Sox-Mets (June 27, 28, & 29)

The Red Sox, pillagers of the NL East, winners of nine straight, face their toughest challenge in two weeks as the New York Mets travel to Boston to open a three game series. In Game One, impressive rookie Jon Lester (2-0, 2.76) will get his first real test against this powerful Met lineup that features Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Carlos Delgado, and Cliff Floyd. I don't think Lester will be bothered by the increased talent that he will be opposing, this kid looks like the real deal on the mound. The Mets will send Alay Soler (2-1, 3.32) to the hill. On Wednesday, the marquee game of the season to this point will take place as Pedro Martinez (7-3, 3.01) returns to Boston for the first time since the 2004 World Series. Please, give Pedro the respect he deserves when he walks to the rubber for the first time -- without this man, baseball in Boston would be far less important than it is today; Pedro is the major reason that from 1998-2004, the Red Sox won that elusive World Series, played in three ALCS', and made the playoffs four times. After that, do as you please, but at least give him the standing ovation he deserves when he first appears. Josh Beckett (9-3, 4.84) gets the nod for the Sox. In Thursday's series finale, Curt Schilling (9-2, 3.61) goes for his tenth win for the fourth time against an early NL Cy Young candidate, Tom Glavine (11-2, 3.33). As excited as I am for a Schilling/Glavine duel, I would love to see the drama of a Schilling/Pedro matchup. I'm hoping against hope that Pedro and Glavine switch turns in the rotation -- Pedro must have a stubbed toe or something that would allow for the change.