Trips such as this are not easy. Boston builds its lineup around its designated hitter, David Ortiz, who sits smack dab in the middle each and every day. When the DH is lost and pitchers not accustomed to swinging the bat are forced to, it suddenly bears little resemblance to the team we see in Fenway Park.
How Boston handles that issue this time around is just one of several intriguing aspects of the nine-game trip.
Here are the top 10 things to look for on the lengthy excursion >>