Red Sox: What you need to know for Opening Day
The Boston Red Sox are kicking off the 2016 season with an away game against the Cleveland Indians. Here’s what you need to know.
The Boston Red Sox are kicking off the 2016 MLB Regular season this afternoon with an away game against the Cleveland Indians at 4:10 PM EST.
On the mound for the Red Sox will be the newly acquired, left-handed David Price, who finished last season with an 18-5 record, 225 strikeouts, and a 2.45 ERA.
The Red Sox will face right-handed pitcher Corey Kluber. After a 2014 season in which he went 18-6, winning the American League Cy Young, Kluber finished the 2015 season with a 9-16 record, 245 strikeouts, and a 3.49 ERA.
Managed by former Red Sox Manager and two-time World Series winner Terry Francona, the Indians finished the 2015 season third in the American League Central with an 81-80 record. And, in six appearances against the Red Sox, finished 4-2. This, however, is not the same Red Sox team of years past.
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Boston’s starting lineup, from left to right, in the outfield: Brock Holt, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Mookie Betts. With an All-Star in Holt, a defensive force in Bradley, and one of the league’s most exciting young talents in Betts, expectations are high going into opening day for the Red Sox outfield.
The middle-infield is also strong. At second base is, of course, the veteran Dustin Pedroia, and at shortstop, the young-gun Xander Bogaerts.
At the corners, however, there is much in question. At first base is Hanley Ramirez, who came into the majors as a one of the leagues top prospects at shortstop. After a less than stellar season last year, Ramirez’s transition to first has been one of the most contentious debates among Red Sox fans this off season.
Hanley Ramirez playing 1B. pic.twitter.com/ip2zVdJTm3
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) February 25, 2016
Across the diamond, at third base, the Red Sox made headlines by replacing Pablo Sandoval and his $18 million contract with twenty-five year old Travis Shaw. Shaw, who played in 65 games last year, batted .270 with 13 home runs, 61 hits, and 36 RBIs.
Behind the plate is switch-hitter Blake Swihart, who, in 84 games played in 2015, batted .274, 79 hits, 5 homeruns, and 31 RBIs.
And at designated hitter, playing in his final opening day game, David Ortiz. Even at forty years of age, Ortiz shows no signs of slowing. He finished the 2015 season with a .273 batting average, 144 hits, 108 RBIs, and 37 home runs.
While power rankings have the Red Sox ranked far above the Indians, the Red Sox are untested. And with the two Cy-Young winners squaring off, it will be a great look into how the team will fair this season.