BOSTON — The Red Sox will turn to their trusty knuckleballer with hopes of getting back in the win column.
After dropping its third consecutive game Friday night in a 5-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston will send right-hander Steven Wright to the mound Saturday at Fenway Park in the second contest of the teams’ three-game set.
Wright has given the Red Sox plenty in his last three outings, lasting at least seven innings in each of those appearances and going the distance in his latest start, a 7-2 win over the Orioles in Baltimore.
“He’s been, in every sense of the word, dependable — as (much as) anybody on our staff,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Wright. “… (Saturday) is a day we need another quality start from him.”
As usual, Wright will be caught by veteran Ryan Hanigan, who will replace Christian Vazquez and bat ninth. Left fielder Blake Swihart will move up to the No. 8 spot in the order, but the rest of Boston’s lineup from Friday remains unchanged.
The Sox will face off against Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman, whom they touched for seven runs on 11 hits last Saturday in the 25-year-old right-hander’s most recent outing.
Here are the full lineups for both teams.
RED SOX (32-23)
Mookie Betts, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Travis Shaw, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Blake Swihart, LF
Ryan Hanigan, C
Steven Wright, RHP (5-4, 2.45 ERA)
BLUE JAYS (30-26)
Jose Bautista, RF
Michael Saunders, LF
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Justin Smoak, 1B
Devon Travis, 2B
Russell Martin, C
Kevin Pillar, CF
Darwin Barney, 3B
Ryan Goins, SS
Marcus Stroman, RHP (5-1, 4.46 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Peter G. Aiken/USA TODAY Sports Images
