The middle of the order will look a little lighter for the Red Sox on Monday afternoon, with one of their best hitters out of the starting lineup.
A day after taking a spike to the thigh, Xander Bogaerts sits as the Red Sox open a three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays. Christian Arroyo starts in his place at shortstop, with catcher Christian Vázquez moving into the cleanup spot in the batting order.
The top of Boston’s lineup is lefty-heavy despite southpaw Jalen Beeks taking the mound for Tampa. Three of the first five spots in the Red Sox order bat left-handed against Beeks, who actually has better numbers versus righties.
Austin Davis gets his second spot-start as an opener for the Red Sox, who will try to piece together a bullpen game in this Independence Day matinee. Davis’ biggest challenge might be Rays designated hitter Harold Ramirez, who bashes left-handed pitching to the tune of a .381 batting average, .451 on-base percentage and .492 slugging percentage.
First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET, with pregame coverage on NESN beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Here are the full lineups for Monday’s Red Sox-Rays series opener:
BOSTON RED SOX (44-35)
Jarren Duran, CF
Rafael Devers, 3B
J.D. Martinez, DH
Christian Vázquez, C
Alex Verdugo, LF
Trevor Story, 2B
Franchy Cordero, RF
Christian Arroyo, SS
Bobby Dalbec, 1B
Austin Davis, LHP (1-1, 2.45 ERA)
TAMPA BAY RAYS (43-36)
Yandy Diaz, 3B
Wander Franco, SS
Ji-Man Choi, 1B
Harold Ramirez, DH
Isaac Paredes, 2B
Josh Lowe, RF
Randy Arozarena, LF
Francisco Mejia, C
Brett Phillips, CF
Jalen Beeks, LHP (1-1, 2.70 ERA)
