Jon Lester will start for the Red Sox against the Yankees on Opening Day this coming Monday.

"The way he was lined up, he was probably targeted all along," manager John Farrell said, "but at the same time, we didn't want that to be a focal point. His work that was needed and the adjustments he has continued to reinforce and repeat on the mound were the priorities, and we felt like it was important to focus on the needs of spring training for every pitcher, including Jon."

Lester has reverted back to the delivery that made him a dominant pitcher for four years before his ERA blew up to 4.82 last season.

"He's executed pitches with a consistency we've seen before, which made him one of the top left-handers in the game," Farrell said. "He's had a very strong spring training."