Opening Day Roster Is Set

Hideki Okajima and Alfredo Aceves were optioned to Pawtucket today, meaning that the 25-man roster is set.

Dennys Reyes and Matt Albers -- who were both out of options and likely would have been lost had the Red Sox put them through waivers -- will begin the season in the bullpen.

Terry Francona:

We came into camp with extra. ... We certainly, in the back of our head, thought certainly if there's not a big separation we want to keep quantity. ... Aceves pitched well enough to make our ballclub. ... We also thought Albers pitched really well. He was so good, we didn't want to lose him. ...

Reyes has more action on the ball [than Okajima]. We just want Okie to get consistency back so we're not staying away from him. He was pretty good about it. ... Dennis is our only lefty but we're certainly not going to knock Bard out in favor of a lefty. ... We're hoping Albers can give us 1-plus with that two-seamer and and pitch against righthanders and occasionally lefties and get us a ground ball.

Starters

Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Adrian Gonzalez
Dustin Pedroia
Kevin Youkilis
Marco Scutaro
Carl Crawford
Jacoby Ellsbury
J.D. Drew
David Ortiz

Bench

Mike Cameron
Jed Lowrie
Darnell McDonald
Jason Varitek

Starters

Jon Lester
John Lackey
Clay Buchholz
Josh Beckett
Daisuke Matsuzaka

Relievers

Matt Albers
Daniel Bard
Bobby Jenks
Jonathan Papelbon
Dennys Reyes
Tim Wakefield
Dan Wheeler