The Boston Red Sox are looking to extend an eight-game winning streak Friday in St. Petersburg, Fla., and they’ll be doing it with their lineup at full strength.
The Red Sox open a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, and Xander Bogaerts is back and batting out of his usual No. 2 spot. The shortstop got a day off in Thursday’s series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, so he’ll have fresh legs at Tropicana Field. Brock Holt, who filled in at shortstop Thursday, will shift to left field and bat ninth while Andrew Benintendi gets a rest.
Drew Pomeranz will get the ball for the Red Sox and will be trying to bounce back from a forgettable start. The left-hander gave up four runs over just 3 2/3 innings against the New York Yankees on Sunday in a game Boston ultimately came back to win. Bryan Holaday will catch for Pomeranz and bat eighth.
Here are the Red Sox’s and the Rays’ lineups for Friday’s game.
RED SOX (89-64)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Mookie Betts, RF
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Travis Shaw, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Bryan Holaday, C
Brock Holt, LF
Drew Pomeranz, LHP (10-12, 3.40 ERA)
RAYS (65-87)
Logan Forsythe, 2B
Kevin Kiermaier, CF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Brad Miller, 1B
Mikie Mahtook, RF
Corey Dickerson, LF
Alexei Ramirez, SS
Bobby Wilson, C
Luke Maile, DH
Chris Archer, RHP (8-18, 4.05 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports Images
