The Boston Red Sox appear to be moving in the right direction as they prepare to launch an opening salvo at the Seattle Mariners.
The Red Sox have scored an average of 5.8 runs in their last eight games, significantly higher than the 2.3 runs per game they scored in the eight games before this fruitful span.
Manager Alex Cora looks to keep the offense churning Thursday at Fenway Park in the opening game of the Red Sox-Mariners series by making only one personnel change in the starting lineup: Jackie Bradley Jr. returns from an off day as the right fielder and No. 9 batter. Franchy Cordero drops to the bench.
To accommodate this move, first baseman Bobby Dalbec moves up in the order from eighth to seventh, and catcher Christian Vázquez climbs from ninth to eighth.
Rich Hill is the Red Sox starting pitcher. The lefty has posted a 0.95 ERA over his last four starts, allowing two runs in 19 combined innings of work.
Right-handed pitcher George Kirby opposes Hill for the Mariners.
NESN will air Red Sox-Astros in full, with pregame coverage beginning at 6 p.m. ET with "Red Sox First Pitch," followed by "Red Sox Gameday Live" at 6:30 p.m. First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Remember, if you're on the go, you can stream the game online at Watch NESN Live and on the NESN app.
Here are the full lineups for Thursday's matchup:
BOSTON RED SOX (14-22)
Kiké Hernández, CF
Rafael Devers, 3B
J.D. Martinez, DH
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Alex Verdugo, LF
Trevor Story, 2B
Bobby Dalbec, 1B
Christian Vázquez, C
Jackie Bradley Jr., RF
Rich Hill, LHP (1-1, 2.89 ERA)
SEATTLE MARINERS (17-21)
Adam Frazier, LF
Ty France, 1B
Julio RodrÃguez, CF
Jesse Winker, DH
Eugenio Suarez, 3B
Luis Torrens, C
Abraham Toro, 2B
Dylan Moore, SS
Steven Souza Jr., RF
George Kirby, RHP (0-0, 0.90 ERA)
