The first-place Boston Red Sox aim to widen their lead atop the American League East division when they begin a three-game series Friday night against the rival New York Yankees in the Bronx.
Boston entered Friday with a half-game lead over the second-place Baltimore Orioles in the division and seven games ahead of the Yankees.
Rick Porcello will take the mound for the Red Sox. He has enjoyed a fabulous start to the 2016 campaign with a 5-0 record, a 2.76 ERA, 36 strikeouts and just six walks over 32 2/3 innings.
His last start was an 8-0 victory over the Yankees on April 30 during which he gave up zero earned runs and struck out six in seven innings.
New York will send 27-year-old starter Michael Pineda to the mound.
Here are the lineups for both teams.
BOSTON RED SOX (17-11)
Mookie Betts, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Travis Shaw, 3B
Brock Holt, LF
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Christian Vazquez, C
Rick Porcello, RHP (5-0, 2.76 ERA)
NEW YORK YANKEES (9-17)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Brett Gardner, LF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Brian McCann, C
Carlos Beltran, DH
Starlin Castro, 2B
Aaron Hicks, RF
Didi Gregorius, SS
Ronald Torreyes, 3B
Michael Pineda, RHP (1-3, 6.33 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports Images
