Oakland in the afternoon

The traveling Red Sox (2-1) conclude their short two-game series in Oakland this afternoon with a 3:35 p.m. start vs. the Athletics (1-2). The Globe's Nick Cafardo will be providing live updates from the press box at McAfee Coliseum before and throughout the game.

In the afternoon tilt, Sox lefty Jon Lester (0-1, 9.00) will face A's righty Rich Harden (1-0, 1.50 ERA) in a rematch of Game 2 in Tokyo on March 26. In that contest, Harden was impressive in the A's 5-1 win, allowing only one run on three hits in six innings while striking out nine. Lester, meanwhile, was tagged for four runs and gave up five hits (including a three-run homer) and three walks in four innings.

Check out today's complete MLB schedule here.