The Boston Red Sox, after losing two out of three to the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend, are taking on the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-game series at Tropicana Field starting on Monday.
For the opener, Boston will send Tanner Houck to the mound while Tampa Bay will counter with Taj Bradley.
Here's Alex Cora's lineup for the contest:
- Jarren Duran CF
- Wilyer Abreu RF
- Tyler O'Neill LF
- Rafael Devers 3B
- Connor Wong DH
- Dominic Smith 1B
- David Hamilton 2B
- Reese McGuire C
- Ceddanne Rafaela SS
Kevin Cash's lineup can do damage:
- Yandy Diaz 1B
- Josh Lowe RF
- Isaac Paredes 3B
- Brandon Lowe 2B
- Jonathan Aranda DH
- Jonny DeLuca CF
- Richie Palacios LF
- Jose Caballero SS
- Ben Rortvedt C
Houck has been great for Boston this season, posting a 2.17 ERA (tied for ninth in the MLB) and a 1.02 WHIP (17th). His last start came against the Rays, and Boston lost 4-3. Six Rays have hits against him in his career - Aranda (2-for-4 with a walk), Caballero (1-for-3), Diaz (2-for-9 with a walk), Lowe (4-for-6 with two RBIs and a walk), Palacios (1-for-3) and Paredes (1-for-7 with a walk).
Bradley has been just as good for Tampa Bay in a much smaller sample size, posting a 2.45 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in his two starts. He allowed two runs in that 4-3 victory over Boston last week. Five Red Sox have recorded hits off of him - Abreu (1-for-3 with a home run), Duran (2-for-5), Hamilton (1-for-2), McGuire (1-for-2) and Wong (1-for-1 with an RBI and two walks).