BOSTON — The Red Sox will welcome back a member of their Opening Day rotation Saturday.
Right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly was activated from the 15-day disabled list Saturday and will get the start at Fenway Park in the Red Sox’s matchup with the Cleveland Indians. Boston optioned right-hander Noe Ramirez to Triple-A Pawtucket in a corresponding move.
Kelly made just three starts this season, posting a 9.35 ERA (nine earned runs over 8 2/3 innings), before going on the disabled list on April 20 with a right shoulder impingement. But the 27-year-old excelled in three rehab starts with the PawSox, allowing just two earned runs over 14 1/3 innings.
Ryan Hanigan will do the catching for Kelly on Saturday and bat eighth. He’ll be followed in the nine hole by new left fielder Blake Swihart, who made his major league debut at the position Friday in Boston’s 4-2 loss to Cleveland.
The Red Sox will face right-hander Trevor Bauer, who has yet to allow more than three earned runs in a start this season.
Here are the full lineups for both teams.
RED SOX (25-17)
Mookie Betts, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Travis Shaw, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Ryan Hanigan, C
Blake Swihart, LF
Joe Kelly, RHP (1-0, 9.35 ERA)
INDIANS (22-17)
Rajai Davis, CF
Jason Kipnis, 2B
Francisco Lindor, SS
Mike Napoli, DH
Carlos Santana, 1B
Marlon Byrd, LF
Juan Uribe, 3B
Lonnie Chisenhall, RF
Chris Gimenez, C
Trevor Bauer, RHP (3-1, 3.89 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
