Clay Buchholz’s opportunities to start have been few and far between this season, but he’ll get at least one more go Tuesday night.
Buchholz will start for the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field in the second game of their four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The right-hander is filling in for knuckleballer Steven Wright, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder injury.
Wright is expected to return to the rotation Friday, so it’s likely Buchholz will get pushed out of the rotation after Tuesday. Buchholz has been serviceable as a fill-in, though, allowing only one run over six innings last Thursday against the Detroit Tigers.
Sandy Leon will catch for Buchholz and bat seventh. Jackie Bradley Jr. returns to the lineup, batting sixth and playing center field after beginning Monday’s 6-2 win on the bench. Andrew Benintendi, who has become virtually impossible to take off the field, will bat ninth and play left field, the same spot where he made an incredible leaping catch Monday to rob a home run.
Here are the lineups for Tuesday’s Red Sox-Rays game.
RED SOX (70-54)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Mookie Betts, RF
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Sandy Leon, C
Travis Shaw, 3B
Andrew Benintendi, LF
Clay Buchholz, RHP (4-9, 5.42 ERA)
RAYSÂ (52-71)
Logan Forsythe, 2B
Kevin Kiermaier, CF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Brad Miller, 1B
Tim Beckham, SS
Logan Morrison, DH
Steven Souza Jr., RF
Corey Dickerson, LF
Bobby Wilson, C
Chris Archer, RHP (7-16, 4.18 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports Images
