The Detroit Tigers wouldn’t give the Boston Red Sox a hand by moving back Thursday’s series opener, and it looks as though they might have already earned an advantage.
The Red Sox played a late game in Baltimore against the Orioles on Wednesday, and now they’ll have to push through the fatigue to take on the Tigers at 1:10 p.m. at Comerica Park. And as a result, Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Travis Shaw all are getting a night off.
Deven Marrero will play second base for Pedroia and bat eighth, while Sandy Leon will be the designated hitter and bat sixth in Thursday’s mixed-up lineup. Bryan Holaday will catch for Leon and bat seventh, and Aaron Hill will take Shaw’s post at third base and bat out of the leadoff spot. However, the Red Sox will have some fresh legs, as Hanley Ramirez is back from the bereavement list, playing first base and batting cleanup.
Clay Buchholz is on the mound for Boston, making his second start in place of Steven Wright, who’s on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation. Buchholz gave up three earned runs on three hits with three walks and one strikeout over 4 1/3 innings in his last outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the Red Sox still picked up a 6-3 win.
Here are the Red Sox’s and Tigers’ lineups for Thursday.
RED SOX (67-52)
Aaron Hill, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Mookie Betts, RF
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Sandy Leon, DH
Bryan Holaday, C
Deven Marrero, 2B
Andrew Benintendi, LF
Clay Buchholz, RHP (4-9, 5.66 ERA)
TIGERS (63-57)
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Erick Aybar, SS
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Victor Martinez, DH
J.D. Martinez, RF
Casey McGehee, 3B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Andrew Romine, CF
Alex Presley, LF
Matt Boyd, LHP (4-2, 4.16 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
