Spinning the wheels on early rotation

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Terry Francona is not ready to name his Opening Day starter. But based on the rotation he set for the first week of exhibition games, it will be either Josh Beckett or Jon Lester.The Red Sox start exhibition play Wednesday with a split-squad doubleheader at City of Palms Park against Northeastern and Boston College. Casey Kelly will face the Huskies before Boof Bonser takes on the Eagles.Beckett will start Thursday against Minnesota at City of Palms before Lester starts Friday’s game against the Twins at Hammond Stadium across town in Fort Myers.Tim Wakefield also will pitch Friday, following Lester.If Beckett and Lester work every five days this spring, Beckett could start against the Yankees at Fenway Park April 4 on one extra day of rest or Francona could select Lester on regular rest.As for the remainder of the spring rotation this week, John Lackey will start against the Twins Saturday at home with rookie Felix Doubront starting for the split squad against Tampa Bay in Port Charlotte.Clay Buchholz is set for next Sunday’s game against the Orioles in Sarasota.As for Daisuke Matsuzaka, he is getting closer to joining his rotation mates. The righthander played catch yesterday, this time from a mound. He will long toss today and could throw in the bullpen as soon as tomorrow.“He wasn’t throwing hard, but he just kind of got a feel for that angle coming off the mound that you can’t get throwing from flat ground,’’ Francona said. “[Today] will be an aggressive day where he’ll throw from 150 feet.’’Matsuzaka has been delayed because of a back strain suffered during winter workouts in Arizona.First responder Mike Lowell, a third baseman by trade, worked out at first base during the defensive drills.“Actually pretty good,’’ Francona said when asked how Lowell looked. “It was pretty easy for him.’’The activity serves two purposes. The Sox would like Lowell to be versatile should he start the season on their bench. Being able to play first also increases his value in the trade market.Lowell has not played first since 1999 when he was a Yankees prospect.Helping hands? The acquisition of infielder Angel Sanchez as a minor league free agent merited only a few lines on a January news release. But the 26-year-old could prove helpful this season.“We like him,’’ general manager Theo Epstein said. “He was somebody we were happy we signed when we had the chance.’’Sanchez had a solid season for Triple A Las Vegas in 2009, hitting .305 with 39 extra-base hits and 60 RBIs in 126 games. He played mostly shortstop, with 10 games at second base. Sanchez followed that up by hitting .318 for Mayaguez in the Puerto Rican Winter League.The only major league experience Sanchez has are eight games with the Royals in 2006. He was a Kansas City draft pick in 2001 and stayed in that organization for eight years before joining the Blue Jays. Sanchez has hit .286 with a .343 on-base percentage in 161 Triple A games in his career.“He is a very good defender,’’ said Epstein, who indicated Sanchez could get promoted if the Sox need infield help during the season. “Our reports on him were solid.’’Showing some pop It was a cold, rainy, and generally dreary day in Fort Myers, and only a small crowd of fans turned out for the workout. But David Ortiz gave them a show during batting practice, driving several balls deep over the fence in right field that clanked off far-off buildings . . . Adrian Beltre appears to be over his twisted right ankle, although the trainers are keeping an eye on him. “We’re trying to slow him down a little bit, but he’s hard to slow down,’’ said Francona. “He’s doing good.’’ . . . Former Red Sox outfielder Reggie Smith (1966-73) was at the Player Development Complex working for a company selling batting gloves.Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com.