Jon Lester

In their last scheduled game of the regular season, the Red Sox start Jon Lester with the hope that their ace can deliver in what is essentially a must-win game for Boston Wednesday night. Lester is facing a team that he has had immense success against over the course of his career in the Orioles.

Baltimore will start Alfredo Simon, who will look to pick up his first win in seven starts and play the part of spoiler.

Tied with the Red Sox in the wild card standings are the Rays, who are facing a Yankees team that has already clinched first place in the AL East. David Price will start for Tampa Bay Wednesday, while New York had yet to designate a starter at 1 p.m.

Lester (15-9, 3.49 ERA) has struggled throughout September, along with the rest of the Boston starters. The left-hander is 1-3 with a 5.96 ERA in the month, and he was lit up by the Yankees in his last start on Saturday for eight runs in 2 2/3 innings. But Lester has owned Baltimore throughout his career, posting a 14-0 record with a 2.33 ERA.

The current Orioles lineup has just one home run in 190 combined plate appearances against Lester. Matt Wieters is hitting .348 off of the Boston starter in his career, but he has just one extra-base hit.

Simon (4-9, 4.85 ERA) was converted to a starter in July and has had an up-and-down season since. His worst month has been September, in which Simon is 0-2 with a 6.52 ERA. The right-hander was solid in his last outing, when he pitched eight innings and gave up three runs in a no-decision against Detroit.

In one start against Boston this year, Simon surrendered three runs in 4 2/3 innings. He has not faced any Red Sox batter more than six times in his career. Jacoby Ellsbury has a double and a triple off of Simon in three career plate appearances.

Red Sox vs. Simon

David Ortiz (six career plate appearances): 0-for-4, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

Marco Scutaro (6): 1-for-4, 2 walks

Dustin Pedroia (5): 0-for-3, 2 walks, 1 strikeout

Kevin Youkilis (5): 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 walk

J.D. Drew (4): 0-for-4, 3 strikeouts

Jacoby Ellsbury (3): 3-for-3, 1 double, 1 triple

Adrian Gonzalez (3): 0-for-2, 1 walk

Josh Reddick (3): 3-for-3, 1 double, 2 RBIs

Jed Lowrie (2): o-for-2

Jarrod Saltalamacchia (2): 0-for-2

Mike Aviles (1): 1-for-1

Carl Crawford (1): 1-for-1

Darnell McDonald (1): 0-for-1

Lars Anderson, Joey Gathright, Jose Iglesias, Conor Jackson, Ryan Lavarnway and Jason Varitek have not faced Simon.

Orioles vs. Lester

Nick Markakis (52 plate appearances): .220 BA/.250 OBP/.320 SLG, 5 doubles, 1 RBI, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts

Adam Jones (37): .219 BA/.324 OBP/.250 SLG, 1 double, 3 RBIs, 5 walks, 13 strikeouts

Vladimir Guerrero (30): .214 BA/.267 OBP/.357 SLG, 1 double, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts

Matt Wieters (24): .348 BA/.375 OBP/.391 SLG, 1 double, 2 RBIs, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts

Nolan Reimold (13): .400 BA/.538 OBP/.500 SLG, 1 double, 3 walks 1 strikeout

Chris Davis (9): 0-for-9, 2 strikeouts

Robert Andino (7): 4-for-7, 1 double

Jake Fox (6): 0-for-6, 1 strikeout

Mark Reynolds (6): 0-for-5, 1 strikeout

Josh Bell (3): 0-for-3

J.J. Hardy (3): 1-for-3, 1 strikeout

Ryan Adams, Matt Angle, Pedro Florimon, Kyle Hudson and Craig Tatum have not faced Lester.