Red Sox Vs. Orioles Lineups: Tyler O’Neill Returns From Injured List

The Boston Red Sox victoriously escaped a slugfest against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night, only to add right-handed slugger Tyler O’Neill back to the lineup for Saturday night’s matchup at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

O’Neill took two trips to the hospital, first for a stomach illness and then again at Mass General Hospital to address a leg infection, which sidelined him for over a week. The 29-year-old returned to Boston’s clubhouse on Wednesday to undergo pregame routines before the team arrived in Baltimore to begin its four-game weekend series. Red Sox manager Alex Cora suggested O’Neill progressed well enough to be considered for the division-rival series, and that’s exactly what came to fruition.

Cora inserted O’Neill in the starting lineup, hitting the two-time Gold Glove Award winner third and in left field. Rob Refsnyder, who sat in place of rookie Wilyer Abreu, also returned to the lineup to bat second and play right field. This outfield addition, however, required the team to pull a rather unexpected roster trigger.

Boston optioned switch-hitting infielder Nick Sogard to Triple-A Worcester. The 26-year-old went 10-for-44 at the plate while providing defensive reliability at second base through Sogard’s (12-game) debut trip to the big leagues.

First pitch from Baltimore is set for 7:05 p.m. ET, and you can, and you can catch the game, plus an hour of full pregame coverage, live on NESN.

Here are the starting lineups for the Red Sox and Orioles:

BOSTON RED SOX (64-57)
Jarren Duran, CF
Rob Refsnyder, RF
Tyler O’Neill, LF
Rafael Devers, 3B
Danny Jansen, C
Romy González, 2B
Triston Casas, 1B
Connor Wong, DH
Ceddanne Rafaela, SS

Brayan Bello, RHP (10-5, 4.97 ERA)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES (72-51)
Colton Cowser, LF
Anthony Santander, DH
Gunnar Henderson, SS
Ryan O’Hearn, RF
Ryan Mountcastle, 1B
Jackson Holiday, 2B
Cedric Mullins, CF
Ramón Urías, 3B
James McCann, C

Cade Povich, LHP (1-5, 6.27 ERA)