PITTSBURGH (KDKA)- The Pirates have already picked up a moral victory before the start of their 3-game series versus the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox have decided to skip Josh Beckett’s Saturday start because he’s struggling with the flu.

The Red Sox will use Jon Lester tonight, former Pirate Tim Wakefield on Saturday and Andrew Miller on Sunday.

That means the Pirates won’t have to face Beckett, Clay Buchholz or John Lackey.

Beckett, 31, has posted a 1.86 ERA and 0.92 WHIP through 14 starts this season.

That’s the good news, the bad news is, Pirates pitchers will face the best lineup in baseball.

In all probability, the Bucs won’t have to face DH David Ortiz.

Boston Red Sox Lineup:
1B Adrian Gonzalez: .359 average, 15 HR, 69 RBI
DH David Ortiz: .313, 17 HR, 48 RBI
CF Jacoby Ellsbury: .310, 8 HR, 38 RBI
3B Kevin Youkillis: .279, 11 HR, 53 RBI
2B Dustin Pedroia: .274, 6 HR, 33 RBI
LF Carl Crawford: .243, 6 HR, 31 RBI