ANAHEIM, Calif. — Josh Beckett's postseason resumé: 7-2, a 2.90 ERA, three complete games, 96 strikeouts in 87 innings. Oh, and two World Series rings to show for his work.

Jon Lester's postseason resumé: 2-2, a 2.25 ERA, a start in the final game of the 2007 World Series, 34 strikeouts in 36 innings.

Against the best teams in baseball, Lester's numbers are impressive. But Beckett's are spectacular.

So it's safe to say that yes, Lester is surprised to find himself taking the ball instead of Beckett Thursday in Game One against the Angels.

"I mean, I was surprised to be in this position. But I'm thankful to be considered for Game One. You know, obviously, Josh has had a lot of success in the past, and hopefully, he'll continue to do that," Lester said. "Hopefully, I won't let him down or the team down as far as taking the ball in Game One, and going out and pitching well."

He clearly understands the responsibility, and the track record of the man he has passed by. But to say that the 25-year-old Lester is fazed by the challenge? No way. Lester, a cancer survivor, has been-there, done-that. He's pitched in big games before, seen the rally monkeys and waving towels and statues in Monument Park, and they haven't done much to bother him.

The fact that this is his first postseason Game One shouldn't change much.

"It's going to be crazy here, just like it was last year and when we went to Tampa last year. But that's what makes it fun. You've got a bunch of screaming people in the stands, and it makes it hard for you to focus," Lester said.

But once you figure out how to shut all that out, it's just pitching. And he's done that. Do it once, you can do it again.

"Once you experience it, it's something that never goes away. It's not something that you're just going to forget or just put it in the storage department and never remember again about it. So I think once you get one game under your belt, it makes every other game easier," he said.

Beckett is still considered the leader of the pitching staff, but Lester has been its best performer down the stretch. He is 15-8 with a 3.42 ERA on the season, and has only improved as the season has gone on. He went 7-2 with a 2.82 ERA in the second half. Beckett appears to understand that, and is on board with taking the ball in Game Two.

"I want to do whatever helps us win," Beckett said. "That's the key to the whole postseason, to put yourself in the best possible position to win, whether it's a five-game series or a seven-game series."

Lester deploys a vast arsenal of pitches to attack the hitter, starting with his fastball and his ever-improving cutter, which is effective against both right-handers and left-handers. This year, he improved his changeup to the point where it is now a devastating pitch, complementing his fastball and adding to its punch.

"Jon's got great stuff," said first baseman Kevin Youkilis. "He's a tough lefty that's got a great fastball, and also has a lot of pitches, the cutter, the curveball, the changeup."

With so many pitches, the key for Lester is to vary the way he uses them to keep hitters off balance, Youkilis said.

"If he doesn't get into trends of what pitches are coming, he's a very hard guy to hit, because you have to really expand the plate, the ball moves so much that he has guys tend to swing at bad pitches. For him, it's all about keeping batters off guard, and hopefully swinging at pitches they don't want to swing at," Youkilis said.

Lester hasn't faced the Angels this season, which may be to his advantage. The hitters haven't seen his evolution, or the way he can now use his changeup. He will have every opportunity to show the Angels why he was deserving of the Game One start, under the bright lights of the postseason.

Mike Lowell remembers watching Lester in 2007, when he had just come back from battling cancer, and was obviously not yet 100 percent. He took the ball in the World Series, and forever earned the respect and confidence of his teammates. That kind of feeling doesn't go away.

"I think we have all the confidence in the world in him," Lowell said. "I don't think the stage surprises him or intimidates him at all. He's got great stuff, he's a guy who can shut down great offenses, and we're looking forward to him doing a good job in Game One."

dbarbari@projo.com