Bobby Valentine Confirms Daniel Bard Will Start Sunday, Jon Lester Won’t Pitch Out of Turn

Daniel Bard will get the prime-time treatment on Sunday after all, after Bobby Valentine decided not to bump Bard from his scheduled start in favor of Jon Lester against the Yankees.

Valentine told ESPN Radio in New York that Bard was going to take the mound Sunday, clarifying previous comments about possibly slotting Lester in that day instead.

Lester only threw 80 pitches in two-plus innings of work on Tuesday, bringing up the possibility of going again on Sunday. It now appears that won’t be the case, and Lester will need to wait another day before attempting to bounce back from a rough outing against the Rangers.