BOSTON — Eduardo Rodriguez’s 2016 campaign got off on the right foot, and he’s hoping to carry that success to the Red Sox’s home ballpark.
The 23-year-old left-hander will make his 2016 Fenway Park debut Sunday afternoon, taking the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays for the finale of the teams’ three-game series. Rodriguez allowed two runs over six innings Monday to pick up the win over the Baltimore Orioles.
“I thought the first start in Baltimore, he came back and pitched with an air of confidence and relaxation about him,” manager John Farrell said Saturday of Rodriguez. “There was a natural flow to the game. Looking for more of that (Sunday).”
Rodriguez will be caught by Christian Vazquez, who was forced into action Saturday when both catcher Ryan Hanigan and left fielder/catcher Blake Swihart left with injuries. Boston recalled catcher Sandy Leon from Triple-A Pawtucket to back up Vazquez.
The Red Sox also recalled outfielder Rusney Castillo, but it will be Chris Young who will start in left field Sunday and bat eighth. The rest of Boston’s lineup from Saturday’s 6-4 win remains unchanged.
The Sox will go up against Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada, who pitched eight shutout innings in his last start, a win over the New York Yankees.
Here are the full lineups for both teams.
RED SOX (33-23)
Mookie Betts, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Travis Shaw, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Chris Young, LF
Christian Vazquez, C
Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP (1-0, 3.00 ERA)
BLUE JAYSÂ (30-27)
Jose Bautista, RF
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B
Russell Martin, C
Michael Saunders, LF
Devon Travis, 2B
Kevin Pillar, CF
Matt Dominguez, 3B
Darwin Barney, SS
Marco Estrada, RHP (3-2, 2.43 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports Images
