Thursday night will be Peavy’s first taste of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, as he takes the mound against the Bronx Bombers for the first time since being traded from the White Sox last month.
The right-hander has impressed during his short tenure in Boston, compiling a 3-1 record and allowing two earned runs or fewer in five of his six starts in a Red Sox uniform. Peavy has historically enjoyed success against this Yankees lineup, as well, with only Robinson Cano (4-for-9) and Ichiro Suzuki (8-for-25) boasting batting averages above .300 against him.
On the offensive end, the Red Sox will make just one change to the batting order that put up 20 runs and a franchise record-tying eight homers Wednesday night against Detroit. Ryan Lavarnway, who went 2-for-2 with a home run as a pinch hitter against the Tigers, makes his first start behind the plate since Aug. 15.
Opposing Peavy will be Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova, who is coming off the best start of his young career. Nova twirled his first complete-game shutout last Saturday, allowing just three hits and walking one in a 3-0 win over Baltimore.
Left for dead by many, the Yankees are now creeping dangerously close to the final wild card spot in the American League. Entering Thursday, they sit just 2 1/2 games back of Tampa Bay with three games against the Rays remaining on their schedule.
Check out the full starting lineups Thursday’s series opener below.
Boston Red Sox (84-57)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Daniel Nava, LF
Mike Napoli, 1B
Stephen Drew, SS
Ryan Lavarnway, C
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Jake Peavy, P
New York Yankees (75-64)
Brett Gardner, CF
Derek Jeter, SS
Robinson Cano, 2B
Alfonso Soriano, LF
Curtis Granderson, DH
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Ichiro Suzuki, RF
Chris Stewart, C
Ivan Nova, P