The Boston Red Sox will need Drew Pomeranz to return to his All-Star form Thursday if they want to earn a split with the Seattle Mariners.
The left-hander is 0-2 with a 7.53 ERA in three starts since joining the Red Sox on July 14. But history will be on his side when he takes the mound in the final contest of Boston’s four-game set with Seattle: Pomeranz is 3-0 with a 1.21 ERA in 11 career appearances against the Mariners.
Pomeranz will seek support from a Red Sox lineup that features Dustin Pedroia batting fourth for just the 35th time in his career. The second baseman has thrived in that limited role, however, posting a .385/.430/.654 slash line with seven homers and 29 RBIs in the cleanup spot.
Hanley Ramirez still is day-to-day with a wrist injury, so Travis Shaw will start at first base and bat seventh, while Aaron Hill will man third base and bat sixth. Andrew Benintendi gets the night off after excelling Wednesday in his first big-league start, as Bryce Brentz will take over in left field and bat ninth. Ryan Hanigan will do the catching for Pomeranz.
Left-hander Ariel Miranda will make his first start for Seattle since coming over from the Baltimore Orioles in a trade for Wade Miley.
Here are both full lineups for Thursday’s game:
RED SOX (58-48)
Mookie Betts, RF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Aaron Hill, 3B
Travis Shaw, 1B
Ryan Hanigan, C
Bryce Brentz, LF
Drew Pomeranz, LHP (8-9, 3.09 ERA)
MARINERS (54-52)
Guillermo Heredia, LF
Franklin Gutierrez, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Dae-Ho Lee, 1B
Kyle Seager, 3B
Mike Zanino, C
Leonys Martin, CF
Shawn O’Malley, SS
Ariel Miranda, LHP (0-0, 13.50 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images