Everything went right at just the right time for the Boston Red Sox on Friday. Can they carry that momentum into Saturday?
The Red Sox’s bats exploded against the Toronto Blue Jays in their series opener at Rogers Centre, as Rick Porcello earned his 20th win in a 13-3 victory. The American League East rivals are back at it Saturday afternoon, with a pair of left-handers on the mound in the Red Sox’s Eduardo Rodriguez and the Blue Jays’ J.A. Happ.
Rodriguez dazzled in his last outing, taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics, and has a 2.73 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break. Happ, meanwhile, is second in baseball behind Porcello in wins with a 17-4 record but has allowed three or more runs in four consecutive starts.
Ryan Hanigan will replace Sandy Leon behind the dish, catching Rodriguez and batting ninth. Travis Shaw and Brock Holt also are out of the lineup, as Chris Young gets the start in left field batting seventh, while Aaron Hill is playing third base and batting sixth.
RED SOX (79-61)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Mookie Betts, RF
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Aaron Hill, 3B
Chris Young, LF
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Ryan Hanigan, C
Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP (2-6, 4.83 ERA)
BLUE JAYS (77-63)
Devon Travis, 2B
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Jose Bautista, RF
Russell Martin, C
Troy Tulowitzki, SS
Melvin Upton Jr., LF
Justin Smoak, 1B
Kevin Pillar, CF
J.A. Happ, LHP (17-4, 3.34 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Neville E. Guard/USA TODAY Sports Images