The Red Sox take on the Blue Jays for a three-game series, as Boston looks to rebound against Toronto (in Buffalo) after they dropped a three-game set to the Yankees.
The Sox made some changes to their everyday lineup, as Alex Verdugo was moved to the sixth spot, while Jarren Duran moves into Verdugo’s usual spot at No. 2 in the lineup. J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers also swapped spots, moving Devers to cleanup.
As well as a lineup change, Boston also made a roster move ahead of the action, sending Christian Arroyo to the IL and reinstating Danny Santana from the IL, who was rehabbing in Worcester.
Verdugo’s spot in the lineup gets replaced after he’s slashed just .222/.276/.222 (6-for-27) in his past seven games, with each of his six hits being singles. He also went just 1-for-11 in the past series. These also aren’t just very recent struggles too – he’s hit just .238/.316/.320 in his past 30 games (29-for-122) with just one homer. The left-handed bat’s slash line has dipped all the way down to .272/.338/.414 because of this, as he was hitting above .300 earlier in the year.
Verdugo has nine homers on the season, to go along with five stolen bases and 36 RBIs.
RED SOX LINEUP:
- 2B Kike Hernandez
- CF Jarren Duran
- SS Xander Bogaerts
- 3B Rafael Devers
- DH J.D. Martinez
- LF Alex Verdugo
- RF Hunter Renfroe
- 1B Danny Santana
- C Kevin Plawecki
PITCHERS:
Red Sox: RHP Nick Pivetta (7-4, 4.30 ERA)
Blue Jays: RHP Ross Stripling (3-5, 4.34 ERA)