The Boston Red Sox are shuffling their lineup in hopes of claiming a series win in the finale with the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park.
Franchy Cordero and Kevin Plawecki will return to the Red Sox lineup Thursday, with Cordero playing right field and batting sixth, and Plawecki catching and batting ninth. Both started Tuesday’s series opener and combined for three hits and one run in the 4-0 victory.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora will keep the top of the batting order the same for the fourth consecutive game. His first lineup change comes in the fifth spot, where left fielder Alex Verdugo bumps up to replace center fielder Kiké Hernández, who gets the day off.
In the most noticeable lineup change for the Angels, superstar outfielder Mike Trout gets the day off.
Despite the Angels starting right-handed superstar Shohei Ohtani, the right-handed hitting Dalbec starts at first base and bats seventh. Jackie Bradley Jr. will slide into center to replace Hernández and bat eighth.
Rich Hill will get the start for Boston opposite Ohtani.
NESN will air Red Sox-Angels in full, with pregame coverage starting at 12:30 p.m. ET with “Red Sox First Pitch,” followed by “Red Sox Gameday Live” at 1 p.m. First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 1:35 p.m.
Remember, if you’re on the go you can stream all the action online on NESN.com and the NESN app.
Here are the full lineups for Thursday afternoon’s game:
RED SOX (10-15)
Trevor Story, 2B
Rafael Devers, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
J.D. Martinez, DH
Alex Verdugo, LF
Franchy Cordero, RF
Bobby Dalbec, 1B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Kevin Plawecki, C
Rich Hill, LHP (0-1, 3.71 ERA)
ANGELS (16-10)
Taylor Ward, RF
David Fletcher, 2B
Shohei Ohtani, P
Anthony Rendon, 3B
Jared Walsh, 1B
Max Stassi, C
Jack Mayfield, LF
Brandon Marsh, CF
Andrew Velazquez, SS
Shohei Ohtani, RHP (2-2, 4.19 ERA)
