The Boston Red Sox still have a chance to win their series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, but they’ll have to do so without Hanley Ramirez yet again.
The left fielder is out of the Red Sox’s lineup for the fourth straight game after leaving St. Petersburg, Fla., to get an MRI in Boston, per the Providence Journal’s Brian MacPherson. Ramirez injured his hand when he was struck by a line drive during Wednesday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Boston will trot out a lineup nearly identical to Saturday’s, with the exception of Blake Swihart taking over the catching duties from Sandy Leon and batting eighth.
However, Boston is making one huge change in the rotation. Justin Masterson will be on the mound for the Red Sox in his first start since being activated from the 15-day disabled list. It likely will be a make-or-break outing for the right-hander, who went 2-2 with a 6.37 ERA in his first seven starts this season. Masterson hit the DL after giving up six earned runs in just 2 1/3 innings to the Oakland Athletics on May 12.
Check out both teams’ lineups below.
RED SOX (33-43)
Mookie Betts, CF
Brock Holt, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Mike Napoli, 1B
Alejandro De Aza, LF
Blake Swihart, C
Jackie Bradley Jr., RF
Justin Masterson, RHP (2-2, 6.37 ERA)
RAYS (42-34)
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Grady Sizemore, DH
Evan Longoria, 3B
David DeJesus, LF
Logan Forsythe, 2B
Steven Souza Jr., RF
Marc Krauss, 1B
Brandon Guyer, CF
Rene Rivera, C
Chris Archer, RHP (9-4, 2.01 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports Images
