The Boston Red Sox are hoping to have a little more success against Jake Odorizzi this time around.
The Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays open a three-game series Monday night at Fenway Park, where the Sox are looking to snap a three-game losing streak. To do so, they’ll likely have to figure out how to break through against Tampa Bay starter Jake Odorizzi.
The 25-year-old is off to a nice start this season, and one of his best outings came against Boston. Odorizzi on April 23 went 6 2/3 innings versus Boston, allowing just one run on three hits. He took a no decision, but the Rays were able to get the 2-1 win.
Brock Holt, who has a home run in his career versus Odorizzi, will start in right field for the Red Sox.
On the other side, Boston starter Clay Buchholz is hoping for a bounce-back start. He couldn’t get out of the third inning in his last start against the Toronto Blue Jays. However, Buchholz opposed Odorizzi on April 23 and had one of his best starts of the season. He went six innings, allowing a run on two hits while striking out 10.
Buchholz will be pitching to Sandy Leon, who is in the Boston lineup and behind the plate, giving Blake Swihart the night off. Swihart, who made his major league debut Saturday, went 1-for-7 with four strikeouts in Boston’s weekend series with the New York Yankees.
Here are the starting lineups for both clubs.
Red Sox (12-13)
Mookie Betts, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, LF
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Mike Napoli, 1B
Brock Holt, RF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Sandy Leon, C
Clay Buchholz, P
Rays (13-12)
Kevin Kiermaier, CF
Joe Souza, Jr. RF
James Loney, 1B
Evan Longoria, 3B
David DeJesus, LF
Logan Forsythe, 2B
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Joey Butler, DH
Rene Rivera, C
Jake Odorizzi, P
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
