Duran would have started over Arroyo had the Red Sox and Yankees played Thursday night
The Boston Red Sox won’t open their series with the New York Yankees with a new face in their starting lineup.
Christian Arroyo returns to the starting lineup for Friday night’s contest at Yankee Stadium. Alex Cora would have started with Arroyo on the bench and Jarren Duran in center field had Thursday night’s game taken place. But the Red Sox manager now will deploy the infielder at the expense of the rookie outfielder.
The switch moves leadoff hitter Kiké Hernández back to center field. Alex Verdugo bats second and plays left field. Hunter Renfroe completes the outfield in right and will bat sixth.
Designated hitter J.D. Martinez bats third.
Boston’s infield contains shortstop Xander Bogaerts (who bats fourth), third baseman Rafael Devers (fifth) and first baseman Bobby Dalbec (ninth).
Christian Vázquez bats seventh, instead of eighth, and catches for starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, who hurls first in Boston’s new-look, post-All-Star break rotation.
Lefty Jordan Montgomery starts on the mound for the Yankees.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.
Here are the full lineups for Friday night’s Red Sox-Yankees game:
BOSTON RED SOX (55-34)
Kiké Hernández, CF
Alex Verdugo, LF
J.D. Martinez, DH
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Rafael Devers, 3B
Hunter Renfroe, RF
Christian Vázquez, C
Christian Arroyo, 2B
Bobby Dalbec, 1B
Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP (6-5, 5.52 ERA)
NEW YORK YANKEES (46-34)
DJ LeMahieu, 2B
Giancarlo Stanton, DH
Rougned Odor, 2B
Gary Sanchez, C
Gleyber Torres, SS
Brett Gardner, CF
Chris Gittens, 1B
Trey Amburgey, RF
Tim Locastro, LF
Jordan Montgomery, LHP (3-4, 4.16 ERA)