Red Sox Vs. Rangers Lineups: Nick Sogard Makes MLB Debut

Fresh off 24 hours of rest before a six-game road trip, the Boston Red Sox meet the Texas Rangers for a three-game set at Globe Life Field starting Friday night.

Boston hasn't fared too well in the early portion of its post-All-Star break stretch. However, as the team sits only 6 1/2 games behind the American League East-leading Baltimore Orioles, the Red Sox are far from out. They just took two of three from the Seattle Mariners to wrap up a six-game homestand, and the Red Sox are also on the verge of welcoming back a few key pieces -- such as Triston Casas and Chris Martin -- could soon join the trade deadline newcomers in Boston -- and just in time.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora will give infield prospect Nick Sogard the start at second base in Texas, marking the MLB debut of the 26-year-old's career. Sogard, who played 89 games this season in Triple-A Worcester and batted .279 with 12 home runs, was promoted before Wednesday's rubber match with Seattle. Cora noted that Sogard's valuable lineup flexibility played a role in the 2019 12th-rounder's chance to make an impression with the organization's big league club.

With offseason acquisition Vaughn Grissom recovering while having played just 12 games this season, Boston needs production at second base.

"We felt like having the switch-hitter is gonna help us," Cora said at Fenway Park on Wednesday. "... We knew the player, we knew that work ethic and he's been solid in every aspect. Through the process, the numbers have been good numbers, right? Controls the strike zone, hits the ball hard from both sides, good defender."

First pitch from Texas is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET, and you can catch the live action on NESN, following an hour of pregame coverage.

Here are the lineups for the Red Sox and Rangers:

BOSTON RED SOX (57-50)
Jarren Duran, CF
Masataka Yoshida, DH
Tyler O'Neill, LF
Rafael Devers, 3B
Connor Wong, C
Wilyer Abreu, RF
Dominic Smith, 1B
Nick Sogard, 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela, SS

Kutter Crawford, RHP (6-8, 3.60 ERA)

TEXAS RANGERS (52-57)
Josh Smith, DH
Corey Seager, SS
Marcus Semien, 2B
Wyatt Langford, LF
Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
Josh Jung, 3B
Ezequiel Duran, RF
Carson Kelly, C
Leody Taveras, CF

José Ureña, RHP (3-5, 3.07 ERA)