BOSTON — It’s been pretty hot in New England over the past month or so. But Joe Kelly has been hotter.
The Red Sox right-hander has been on a tear of late, earning a win in each of his last seven outings. He’ll hope to make it eight in a row Wednesday night when he takes the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays in the teams’ series finale at Fenway Park.
Kelly hasn’t lost an outing since July 22 and has surrendered two runs or fewer in six consecutive appearances. Entering August with a 2-6 record and a 5.94 ERA, he now sports a 9-6 record with a 4.84 ERA.
Kelly will have his work cut out for him against one of the best offenses in baseball, though. Ryan Hanigan will be his battery mate and bat eighth, as catcher Blake Swihart gets the night off.
Rusney Castillo will take Brock Holt’s spot in left field and bat seventh, but the rest of Boston’s lineup remains unchanged from Tuesday night.
Check out both full lineups below.
RED SOX (65-73)
Mookie Betts, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Travis Shaw, 1B
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Rusney Castillo, LF
Ryan Hanigan, C
Jackie Bradley Jr., RF
Joe Kelly, RHP (9-6, 4.84 ERA)
BLUE JAYSÂ (79-59)
Ben Revere, LF
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Jose Bautista, RF
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Troy Tulowitzki, SS
Chris Colabello, 1B
Russell Martin, C
Ryan Goins, 2B
Kevin Pillar, CF
Drew Hutchison, RHP (13-3, 5.07 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images
