For this series, we’ll start with the most important question – Why are the games on Tuesday and Thursday being played an hour earlier than originally scheduled?

In case you missed it, Tuesday's and Thursday's Orioles-Boston Red Sox games, originally scheduled for 7:05 p.m., will now start at 6:05 p.m, the Orioles announced. The Red Sox requested the time changes to avoid an overlap with games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA Finals games begin at 9 p.m. each night.

Are the Red Sox worried about traffic problems being caused by two professional sports being played in the same city on the same night? No, that can’t be it since the basketball games are being played in Los Angeles.

Could they be worried about the potential loss of ticket sales if fans decide they would rather stay home and watch the Celtics? Well, that’s probably not it, either. According to this article from MLB.com, the Red Sox are on pace to break the record for most consecutive sellouts later this season. In other words, there is a pretty good chance that the games will be sold out even with the Celtics playing in the NBA Finals.

I just don’t understand how they can change the time of two games – virtually at the last minute – and the only justification is that another professional team from that city is playing a game later that night on the other side of the country.

What if there were some Orioles fans with flight arrangements to Boston that would give them just enough time to get from the airport to the game for the 7:05 p.m. starting time? Now they’ll have to be late to the baseball game because it’s more important that Red Sox fans will be able to watch the Celtics and Lakers play on television.

Do you think any team other than the Red Sox would be given this luxury?

OK, I’m done my rant. Let’s get to the fantasy advice for this series.

Pitching matchups

Tuesday 6/10: Daniel Cabrera (5-2, 3.98) vs. Josh Beckett (6-4, 4.07)
Wednesday 6/11: Garrett Olson (5-1, 3.86) vs. Jon Lester (4-3, 3.50)
Thursday 6/12: Jeremy Guthrie (3-6, 3.40) vs. Bartolo Colon (3-1, 3.91)

Who you should play from the Red Sox

Jacoby Ellsbury, OF – Ellsbury leads the major leagues in stolen bases (28) and the Orioles have allowed the most stolen bases in the American League (63). Ellsbury stole seven bases in the four-game series at Camden Yards from May 30 to June 2. If he can get on base, expect Ellsbury to have at least three stolen bases in this series. He’ll be running until the Orioles can prove that they can throw him out.

Who you should bench from the Red Sox

Josh Beckett, RHP – Beckett is 0-1 in two starts against the Orioles this season. He has allowed seven runs on 15 hits in 11 2/3 innings. Beckett is 4-0 at Fenway Park in 2008, but his ERA at home is 4.55. Call it a hunch, but it might be a good idea to keep Beckett on the bench for this series. Even if he does get the win Tuesday, he could hurt your team ERA. Sit him as long as you can afford to get your strikeouts from other pitchers in his absence.

Who you should play from the Orioles

Nick Markakis, RF – It’s about time someone woke Markakis up. Although he was 0-for-4 Sunday, Markakis is still hitting .469 in June (15-for-32) with a home run, four doubles, four runs scored and five RBIs. In the recent four-game series against the Red Sox in Baltimore, Markakis was 7-for-18. However, he didn’t have any home runs, RBIs or runs scored. Look for that to change during the three games in Boston.

Who you should bench from the Orioles

Garrett Olson, LHP – There probably aren’t a lot of fantasy owners with Olson on their team, but he might be on some rosters in extremely deep leagues. That’s why owners should be advised to keep him on the bench in this series. Olson has solid statistics so far this season (5-1, 3.86 ERA, 32 strikeouts), but he didn’t pitch too well in his only career start at Fenway Park. Olson was the losing pitcher in Clay Buchholz’s no-hitter against the Orioles last season, allowing four runs on seven hits and five walks in 5 1/3 innings during that game.