It’s safe to say the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels are trending in opposite directions.
The Red Sox entered Wednesday having won six straight, improving Boston’s record to 29-27, while the Angels are stuck in a 13-game losing streak that has dropped Los Angeles’ record to 27-30.
The Angels on Tuesday fired manager Joe Maddon. It didn’t lead to immediate results, as the Sox took down the Halos 6-5 in 10 innings one day after Boston starter Michael Wacha tossed a complete-game shutout in Monday’s series opener.
Can the Angels snap their skid Wednesday in the third game of a four-game set? Or will the Red Sox continue their winning ways in the second stop of a three-city West Coast swing?
Nathan Eovaldi will take the ball for Boston on Wednesday night. He’s coming off back-to-back victories, first going the distance against the Baltimore Orioles on May 28 and then holding the Oakland Athletics scoreless for six innings last Friday.
The Red Sox’s lineup will have a much different look, as manager Alex Cora revealed before the game that Kiké Hernández was headed to the injured list with a right hip flexor strain. Jonathan Araúz will take Hernández’s spot on the active roster and join the team in Anaheim, with Cora saying this is a stretch where he’d like to get his infielders some rest.
Speaking of rest, Rafael Devers will receive a breather Wednesday, prompting Cora to move Bobby Dalbec across the diamond to third base while Christian Vázquez starts at first base. Kevin Plawecki will catch Eovaldi behind the plate.
Christian Arroyo will play right field and lead off Wednesday in Hernández’s absence. He’ll be joined in the outfield by Alex Verdugo in left field and Jackie Bradley Jr. in center field.
The good news for Boston: Xander Bogaerts, who exited Tuesday’s game with left shoulder tightness, is available. He’ll start at shortstop and bat cleanup.
The Angels also lost a star Tuesday night when Mike Trout left the game with groin tightness. He, unlike Bogaerts, isn’t in the starting lineup Wednesday. Juan Lagares will take over in center field for Los Angeles, flanked by Brandon Marsh and Jo Adell in left field and right field, respectively.
Wednesday’s pregame coverage on NESN begins at 8:30 p.m. ET, with “Red Sox First Pitch” followed by “Red Sox Gameday Live.” The game is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. ET.
Here are the full lineups for Wednesday’s Red Sox vs. Angels game on NESN.
BOSTON RED SOX (29-27)
Christian Arroyo, RF
Christian Vázquez, 1B
J.D. Martinez, DH
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Trevor Story, 2B
Alex Verdugo, LF
Bobby Dalbec, 3B
Kevin Plawecki, C
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Nathan Eovaldi, RHP (3-2, 3.41 ERA)
LOS ANGELES ANGELS (27-30)
Shohei Ohtani, DH
Jo Adell, RF
Jared Walsh, 1B
Matt Duffy, 3B
Juan Lagares, CF
Brandon Marsh, LF
Jack Mayfield, 2B
Kurt Suzuki, C
Tyler Wade, SS
Reid Detmers, LHP (2-2, 4.20 ERA)
