The Red Sox have tabbed Jon Lester as their starter for this season's opener. Josh Beckett told manager Bobby Valentine that Lester deserves the start. "Josh explained to me about starting pitchers and their Opening Day status or mentality or whatever," Valentine said. "He thought that Jon earned the job last year and didn't do anything to lose it. "It was great information. It was like, 'Gosh, I'm glad I don't have to now worry about this throughout spring training.' So, maybe I was surprised, pleasantly surprised." Lester also started the 2011 opener for the Red Sox.