Red Sox Shake Up Lineup as Final Homestand Opens vs. Cleveland
The short version
- Red Sox open six-game final homestand Tuesday vs. Cleveland at 6:45 p.m. ET on NESN
- Story, Duran and Contreras absent from starting lineup without a stated reason
- Anthony leads off in left field; Jones bats third as DH
- Payton Tolle (9-6, 3.02 ERA) faces Guardians lefty Parker Messick (12-9, 2.57 ERA)
- Boston has clinched a playoff spot and leads by four games for the second AL wild card
Boston rests Story, Duran and Contreras while starting a reshuffled nine against Cleveland left-hander Parker Messick at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox begin their last homestand of the regular season Tuesday night at Fenway Park against the Cleveland Guardians, and the starting nine looks notably different. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. ET, with the game airing on NESN.
Roman Anthony leads off and plays left field, with Nick Sogard batting second at first base and Jahmai Jones handling designated hitter duties in the three-hole. Wilyer Abreu, Adley Rutschman, Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Nate Eaton fill out the order. Trevor Story, Jarren Duran and Willson Contreras were all left out of the lineup, and the club did not explain their absences in its announcement.
Boston has already secured a playoff berth and holds a four-game lead for the second American League wild-card spot with six home games remaining. Interim manager Chad Tracy now has limited time to settle on the combinations he wants heading into next week's wild-card series.
Tuesday's pitching matchup features a pair of left-handers. Payton Tolle (9-6, 3.02 ERA) starts for Boston against Cleveland's Parker Messick (12-9, 2.57 ERA). The Guardians arrive having won four in a row and lead the AL Central by one game.
Written by the Matchday Live desk from reporting by Yahoo Sports.
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