The Boston Red Sox and manager Bobby Valentine solidified the five-man pitching rotation Sunday, as they announced former set-up man Daniel Bard will be the team's fifth starter to begin the 2012 season with Felix Doubront being the fourth. Bard and Doubront will join Opening Day starter Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz.

"Daniel Bard came in and progressed exactly the way we hoped he would progress," Valentine told the media Sunday. Meanwhile, Doubront, who was the Red Sox most consistent starter in Spring Training, was very excited about the news.

"It was awesome and it was the best news from the manager to say I have the first game in Toronto," Doubront said. "For me, that's what I’ve been looking forward to all spring and even when I started my offseason. To hear that news, it's pretty amazing."