In each facet of the game, the Boston Red Sox have been thoroughly dominant to start the season.
And their pitching is about to get even better.
Lefty Drew Pomeranz officially was activated and will start Friday for the Sox’s series-opening contest in Oakland against the Athletics at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum.
Pomeranz was stellar in 2017, going 17-6 with a 3.32 ERA over 32 starts. He was expected to again be a key part of Boston’s rotation to start 2018, but a setback with his throwing forearm caused him to miss nearly his entire spring training and begin the season on the DL.
Pitching aside, the Sox’s lineup Friday sports a few differences, as outfielder/designated hitter J.D. Martinez will get the night off. Jackie Bradley Jr. will return to center field after getting Thursday off, sliding Andrew Benintendi back to left.
Oakland will send out righty Kendall Graveman to pitch to a red-hot Red Sox lineup that torched the Los Angeles Angels’ pitching staff the last three games. He’s 0-3 with a 9.80 ERA after allowing a league-worst 19 runs to start the season.
Here are the full lineups for Friday’s Red Sox-Athletics game:
BOSTON RED SOX (16-2)
Mookie Betts, RF
Andrew Benintendi, LF
Hanley Ramirez, DH
Mitch Moreland, 1B
Rafael Devers, 3B
Eduardo Nunez, 2B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Christian Vazquez, C
Brock Holt, SS
Drew Pomeranz, LHP (2018 Stats: 17-6, 3.32 ERA)
OAKLAND ATHLETICS (9-10)
Marcus Semien, SS
Stephen Piscotty, LF
Jed Lowrie, 2B
Khris Davis, DH
Matt Chapman, 3B
Matt Olson, 1B
Mark Canha, CF
Chad Pinder, RF
Jonathan Lucroy, C
Kendall Graveman, RHP (0-3, 9.80 ERA)
