The Red Sox look to end a two-game losing streak when their six-game road trip begins Friday.
Boston came off a series loss against the Mariners, the first time Seattle won a series at Fenway Park since 2014. The American League West side boasts a strong pitching staff, but manager Alex Cora was optimistic that his side’s hitting slump would quickly turn around.
Cora will start Ceddanne Rafaela at center field after taking a day off. He’ll bat in the eight-hole ahead of catcher Carlos Narváez. That means Kristian Campbell moves back to second base, and he’ll bat sixth ahead of Triston Casas. Trevor Story and Wilyer Abreu also will swap the fourth and fifth spots in the order to try to help the shortstop break his hitless streak.
Tanner Houck will start Friday night. The right-hander is coming off a no-decision outing against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park last Sunday, where he gave up two runs off three hits and recorded seven strikeouts in six innings.
Friday’s matchup against the Cleveland Guardians also will mark Cora’s 1,000th game as Red Sox manager.
First pitch for the Red Sox-Guardians matchup at Progressive Field is scheduled at 7:10 p.m. ET on Apple TV+.
RED SOX (14-13)
Jarren Duran, LF
Rafael Devers, DH
Alex Bregman, 3B
Trevor Story, SS
Wilyer Abreu, RF
Kristian Campbell, 2B
Triston Casas, 1B
Ceddanne Rafaela, CF
Carlos Narváez, C
Tanner Houck, RHP (0-2, 7.66 ERA)
GUARDIANS (14-10)
Steven Kwan, LF
Nolan Jones, RF
José Ramírez, 3B
Kyle Manzardo, DH
Carlos Santana, 1B
Bo Naylor, C
Gabriel Arias, SS
Daniel Schneemann, 2B
Angel Martínez, CF
