Joe Kelly quietly has had a nice start to his Boston Red Sox career, especially on the road.
The Boston right-hander will look to build on what’s been a promising start to the season when he takes the ball for the second game in a three-game set versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Kelly also is hoping to extend an impressive road unbeaten streak.
With a win in his first start of the season at New York, Kelly improved to 5-0 for his career in road starts against American League teams. In six starts against AL teams, Kelly’s allowed just 16 runs in 44 innings pitched and has held hitters to a .187 batting average.
The Red Sox offense is hoping to generate a little more offense than they were able to muster in Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Tropicana Field. They’ll have to do so without Brock Holt, who’s sitting after getting the start in five straight games. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts is back in the lineup after a night off Tuesday, as is first baseman Mike Napoli.
No one on the Red Sox roster has faced Tampa starter Alex Karns. The 27-year-old is 1-1 with a 4.58 ERA in three starts this season.
Here are the lineups for both clubs.
Red Sox (9-5)
Mookie Betts, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, LF
Mike Napoli, 1B
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Shane Victorino, RF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Ryan Hanigan, C
Joe Kelly, P
Rays (6-8)
David DeJesus, DH
Stephen Souza, RF
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Evan Longoria, 3B
Desmond Jennings, LF
Allan Dykstra, 1B
Logan Forsythe, 2B
Kevin Kiermaier, CF
Rene Rivera, C
Nathan Karns, P
Thumbnail photo via Peter G. Aiken/USA TODAY Sports Images
