When John Lackey takes the mound for the Red Sox Thursday night against the Rays, there will be a lot more riding on his performance than usual.
If Boston fails to earn a series split, it will drop out of first place in the American League East for the first time since May 27 with a tough three-game set in Baltimore on the horizon.
Lackey has been one of the Red Sox’ best pitchers this season, with a 7-7 record and a 2.95 ERA. He has also fared well against Tampa Bay in the past, boasting a career 12-7 record and a 4.39 ERA against the Rays.
He will be opposed by Jeremy Hellickson, who has put together a record of 9-3 and an ERA of 4.62 this season.
There were only a few minor tweaks to the lineups that the two pitchers will be facing. The only change for the Red Sox was Jarrod Saltalamacchia being moved up to the No. 6 spot in the order. The Rays, meanwhile, will have a new catcher and left fielder in Jose Lobaton and Matt Joyce, respectively.
Check out the complete lineups for both teams below.
Tampa Bay Rays (60-42)
Desmond Jennings, CF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Wil Myers, RF
James Loney, 1B
Luke Scott, DH
Matt Joyce, LF
Jose Lobaton, C
Yunel Escobar, SS
Jeremy Hellickson, RHP
Boston Red Sox (61-42)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Johnny Gomes, LF
Stephen Drew, SS
Jose Iglesias, 3B
John Lackey, RHP
