from ESPN Boston Red Sox Reporters Also from WEEI: Righthander Kyle Weiland will make his major league debut on Sunday in the pre-All Star break finale against the Orioles at Fenway Park. The 24-year-old will be taking the place of Jon Lester in the Red Sox rotation, as Lester went on the disabled list this week with a left lat strain suffered in Tuesday's start against the Blue Jays.  One of the factors figuring in for the Red Sox is that Weiland will be well-rested, having come off an impressive start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday, allowing six hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings against Rochester in a win over the Red Wings.  Weiland is 6-2 this season, with a 2.33 ERA in 10 starts. He impressed the Red Sox in spring training with his live arm and earned his first big league assignment by showing consistent control at Triple-A, striking out 59 and walking 19 in 58 innings for Pawtucket. 
Posted by -EdithBunker-

From SoxProspects.com: RHP Kyle Weiland The Line: 93.0 innings- 69 hits, 99 strikeouts, 37 walks, 6 home runs allowed The View: Weiland has put up an impressive season thus far in Triple-A and has entered the conversation for major league consideration during the stretch run of 2011. Using his 91-93 MPH two-seam fastball to set-up the rest of his arsenal, he has displayed improved command lower in the strike zone and the ability to work both sides of the plate with his heater thus far in Pawtucket. Weiland’s fastball is a consistent plus pitch at his disposal. Able to dominate outings with the offering in the low minors, he was pressed to develop his secondary stuff upon being promoted to Double-A last season. Often inconsistent early in 2010, as the season progressed Weiland found more of a feel for his curveball and tightened the rotation from creating slurvy break to more of a power curve sitting 77-79 MPH. The improvement has carried over into this season and his feel has progressed to where he can consistently work both sides of the plate with the pitch. Weiland typically throws his curve harder across the strike zone against right-handed hitters and attacks arm side against left-handed hitters with deeper, backdoor break. It has become a solid-average-to-better pitch for him to complement his fastball with and allows him to use two pitches consistently when working to finish opposing hitters off. Weiland has also re-incorporated his cut fastball from college into sequences this season and further tried to push the development of his average low-80s changeup. The dedication to mixing his entire arsenal into outings, along with improving stamina, has allowed him to continue to be effective deeper into games. Previously his stuff dropped off around the 60 pitch marker and that lent clues to him being best suited as a bullpen arm at the major league level. His success as a starter in Triple-A has lead some opinions to feel he can be effective slotting into the back-end of a rotation, but Weiland noticeably wore down at the end of last season and it bears watching as to how well his stuff is going to hold up in the second half of this season. While his changeup and cutter have been effective at times, he is fastball and curveball dominant. That leads the view here to feel that Weiland is still ultimately best suited for a late inning bullpen role capable of going multiple innings at the big league level, but can fill in a starting rotation spot when stretched out. Given when healthy multiple members of the Red Sox rotation are locked up for the long term, Weiland may end up breaking in during his early career as a reliever regardless. He would also be highly valuable to a second division team looking to add a young, inexpensive arm that can log innings in a rotation and attempt to learn on the job. That aspect also gives the organization a valuable chip should they feel Weiland can help them pursue other team needs.
Posted by -EdithBunker-

How much do you want to bet we see. Navarro, Dmac, Sutton, and Reddick all in the starting line-up Sunday. Not sure of the order but this is how I see it: Scutaro  SS Reddick   CF Pedroia   2B Youk - DH Dmac  LF Drew   RF Salty   C Sutton 1B Navarro 3B None of the All Stars will play.
Posted by Alibiike

In Response to Re: Francona announces Kyle Weiland will start for the Sox on Sunday vs. Orioles at Fenway : Then why d you have Youk listed?  He was named to the team as a replacement.
Posted by JB-3