BOSTON — The Red Sox might have a new pair of battery mates going into the playoffs.
Christian Vazquez is catching for Eduardo Rodriguez on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park after the left-hander gave up only one run with a career-high 13 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in the duo’s last start against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Red Sox manager John Farrell said before Saturday’s game that he wants to see if Rodriguez and Vazquez, who’s batting ninth, can be a successful pairing.
“Nothing other than the game in which both he and Eddie came off of last game in Tampa,” Farrell said of his reasoning behind starting Vazquez. “I recognize this is — and no disrespect to Tampa — but this is obviously a powerful right-handed hitting lineup (in the Blue Jays). … There are some areas on our roster for decision-making yet as we get into beyond (Sunday’s) regular-season finale. So, part of the final decision-making, yeah, it could go right down to the final day of the regular season.”
As for the rest of the lineup, shortstop Xander Bogaerts is back to batting second with Aaron Hill starting at third base and batting eighth against lefty starter J.A. Happ. Chris Young also will start in left field against the southpaw and bat out of the No. 6 hole.
Here are both teams’ lineups for Saturday’s game.
RED SOX (93-67)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Mookie Betts, RF
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Chris Young, LF
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Aaron Hill, 3B
Christian Vazquez, C
Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP (3-7, 4.68 ERA)
BLUE JAYS (87-73)
Devon Travis, 2B
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B
Jose Bautista, DH
Russell Martin, C
Troy Tulowitzki, SS
Melvin Upton Jr., LF
Kevin Pillar, CF
Ezequiel Carrera, RF
J.A. Happ, LHP (20-4, 3.20 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Jeff Griffith/USA TODAY Sports Images
