Eduardo Rodriguez Looks To Build On Strong Start Vs. Struggling Twins

BOSTON — Eduardo Rodriguez is coming off his best outing of the season, and he’ll get a chance to start a hot streak against the worst team in the American League.

The left-hander threw seven innings of one-run ball against the New York Yankees on July 16, a stark contrast from the numbers he was putting up before being optioned to Triple-A. Rodriguez will face off against a Minnesota Twins team Friday that only managed to score two runs on four hits against Steven Wright the night before.

The only change to the Red Sox’s lineup Thursday is Sandy Leon filling in for Ryan Hanigan, who Boston manager John Farrell said went through some “turmoil” catching for Wright on Thursday. Leon will bat eighth.

Here are the Red Sox’s and Twins’ lineups for Friday.

RED SOX (54-39)
Mookie Betts, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Travis Shaw, 3B
Sandy Leon, C
Brock Holt, LF

Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP (2-3, 7.18 ERA)

TWINS (35-60)
Eduardo Nunez, DH
Robbie Grossman, LF
Joe Mauer, 1B
Brian Dozier, 2B
Miguel Sano, 3B
Max Kepler, RF
Eduaro Escobar, SS
Juan Centeno, C
Byron Buxton, CF

Kyle Gibson, RHP (2-6, 5.12 ERA)

Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images