The Red Sox journey to the Bronx this week for the final time this season, and Jake Peavy will look to get them off on the right foot.
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
