Red Sox Nation may want to talk about a certain trade all weekend, but come Saturday evening, it's just another baseball game between Boston and Kansas City, with a valuable win on the line.
With Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett reportedly gone from Boston for good, Mauro Gomez and Aaron Cook, respectively, will be called in for spot duty. Cook was due for another start after a rough outing Tuesday, but he hadn't been penciled in on a specific day yet. Now, with Beckett gone, he's just the guy the Sox need to take the ball Saturday.
Cook lasted just five innings against the Angels on Tuesday, giving up 11 hits and four earned runs.
Gomez, who has filled in for Boston at times due to various injury concerns, will take over at first base and bat fifth.
One notable omission from the Red Sox lineup is David Ortiz, who came off the disabled list Friday and fueled Boston's win with a single, a double and 2 RBIs. After the game, though, he talked of lingering pain, and that's likely why he's not starting Saturday.
Otherwise, Scott Podsednik will be called on again to lead off, and both Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ryan Lavarnway are in the lineup, with Saltalamacchia catching.
Here are the lineups for Saturday:
Red Sox (60-66)
Scott Podsednik LF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Cody Ross RF
Mauro Gomez 1B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia C
Ryan Lavarnway DH
Mike Aviles SS
Pedro Ciriaco 3B
Aaron Cook P
Royals (55-69)
Jarrod Dyson CF
Alcides Escobar 3B
Alex Gordon LF
Billy Butler DH
Salvador Perez C
Mike Moustakas SS
Jeff Francoeur RF
Eric Hosmer 1B
Tony Abreu 2B
Jeremy Guthrie P
