Ryan Lavarnway will return to the lineup to catch knuckleballer Steven Wright‘s first career major league start as the Red Sox try to rebound against the Astros on Tuesday night in Houston.
Wright will get the nod as a result of manager John Farrell‘s wish to give his regular starters an extra day of rest. Despite it being Wright’s first big league start, however, the right-hander has plenty of experience starting for Triple-A Pawtucket. He’s started 19 games for the PawSox this season, owning a 3.89 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. For Boston, Wright has pitched 12 1/3 innings this season and earned two wins, including one in last Thursday’s miracle 8-7 comeback victory over the Mariners, when he pitched three shutout innings.
Lavarnway’s start is likely a result of Wright getting the nod. The catcher has caught all but 3 1/3 innings of the knuckler’s big league innings this season. Together, they’ll try to keep the Astros from running all over them on the basepaths one night after Houston swiped six bases in a 2-0 victory.
Check out the lineups for both teams below.
Boston Red Sox (68-46)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Mike Carp, LF
Stephen Drew, SS
Ryan Lavarnway, C
Brock Holt, 3B
Houston Astros (37-74)
Robbie Grossman, LF
Brandon Barnes, CF
Jose Altuve, 2B
Jason Castro, C
Marc Krauss, DH
Brett Wallace, 1B
Matt Dominguez, 3B
L.J. Hoes, RF
Jonathan Villar, SS
Jordan Lyles, RHP
