Friday, Yankees at Red Sox,

7 p.m., WCBS-2

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Let’s not understate how Red Sox fans feel about Pedro Martinez’ start against the Yankees on Friday night at Fenway Park.

“If he doesn’t win, it’s like it’s the end of the world,” said ESPN’s Peter Gammons, who knows the Boston fans as well as anyone after 31 years covering baseball in that town.

While balancing Armageddon on his right arm, Martinez faces Alfonso Soriano and Derek Jeter for the first time since drilling both of them at the Stadium.

With the rest of the Sox starters either struggling or inconsistent, it is up to Martinez to start Boston in the right direction this weekend. An opening-game loss won’t overwhelm Martinez’ teammates, but for the pessimistic Fenway fans, it will add to their century-long pinstriped psychosis.

“I really don’t think there is any pitcher that goes out with anymore pressure on him,” Gammons said. “They have to put so much weight on Pedro.”

Martinez enjoys being the center of attention, but he can’t enjoy how the excellent Red Sox offense goes flat when he pitches.

“I think he handles it really well,” Gammons said of the pressure. “Especially considering he has never belly-ached about not getting run support this year.”

Gammons likes the Red Sox’ makeup. He said the additions of Kevin Millar and David Ortiz have improved Boston’s clubhouse, making the team more fearless. Problem is, chemistry alone doesn’t win.

Can the Red Sox take the division?

“I don’t think so because of the pitching,” Gammons said. “When we got to the All-Star break, I thought, ‘You know the Yankees have a two-game lead and Bernie [Williams,] Jeter and Mariano Rivera haven’t played enough to take their rightful place in the All-Star Game. That’s pretty scary.’ “

Pretty scary. That’s a good way to describe the amount of pressure Boston fans pile on Martinez, but he can handle it.

“He loves the limelight,” Gammons said.