After their most successful homestand in more than three years, the Boston Red Sox will begin a 10-game West Coast road trip Friday against the Los Angeles Angels.
Felix Doubront will get the nod in the series opener, and he will need to have his best stuff in order to slow down an Angels team that has won eight of its last nine games.
The Sox are coming off a hot streak of their own, though, going 8-1 on their nine-game homestand. They outscored Colorado, Toronto and San Diego 51-30 and will need their bats to stay alive against Angels starter C.J. Wilson.
Wilson is looking to win his fifth consecutive start but will be tasked with putting out the red-hot bats of leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury and second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Ellsbury is riding a 14-game hit streak, including a three-hit performance in Thursday’s 8-0 rout of the San Diego Padres.
The numbers are in Pedroia’s favor heading into Friday’s contest. The 29-year-old has hit Wilson well throughout his career, going 8-for-17 (.471) with three doubles, one home run and six RBIs against the lefty.
Brandon Snyder and Jose Iglesias continue to man the left side of the infield in Stephen Drew‘s absence. The team announced Friday that Drew will be placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 29. Snyder will play the hot corner and hit sixth, while Iglesias takes over the shortstop duties and bats ninth.
Check out the starting lineups for both teams below.
Boston Red Sox (53-34)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Mike Napoli, DH
Jonny Gomes, LF
Daniel Nava, 1B
Brandon Snyder, 3B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Jose Iglesias, SS
Felix Doubront, LHP
Los Angeles Angels (41-44)
J.B. Shuck, LF
Mike Trout, CF
Albert Pujols, DH
Mark Trumbo, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Josh Hamilton, RF
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Chris Iannetta, C
Erick Aybar, SS
C.J. Wilson, LHP
