The Red Sox will welcome back a player from the disabled list and send out arguably their best pitcher to the hill Saturday afternoon in hopes of taking a series win from the Yankees at Fenway Park.
Stephen Drew will return to the lineup, where he’ll play shortstop and bat eighth. It will be his first game back since being sent to the DL on June 28 with a hamstring injury. In 66 games this season, Drew is hitting .233 with five home runs and 31 RBIs.
Both Shane Victorino and Mike Napoli will be out of the lineup. Victorino left Friday night’s 4-2 Red Sox win early with tightness in his hamstring, but manager John Farrell said Saturday that he hopes the right fielder can return for Sunday night’s series finale. Napoli will get the day off and be replaced by Mike Carp, who will bat fifth.
John Lackey will take the hill for the Red Sox, looking to grab his fifth win in his last seven starts. In six home starts this season, Lackey is 4-1 with a 1.32 ERA. Overall, batters are hitting just .236 against the right-hander this season. The Yankees will counter with right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, who is 8-6 with a 2.65 ERA this season.
Check out the lineups for both teams below.
Boston Red Sox (59-39)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Daniel Nava, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Carp, 1B
Jonny Gomes, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Stephen Drew, SS
Jose Iglesias, 3B
John Lackey, RHP
New York Yankees (51-45)
Brett Gardner, CF
Ichiro Suzuki, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Vernon Wells, LF
Travis Hafner, DH
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Chris Stewart, C
Luis Cruz, 3B
Hiroki Kuroda, RHP
