The Boston Red Sox have released their lineup for a New England-specific holiday and one of the earliest first-pitches in the league.
The Sox game will kick off at 11:10 a.m. ET on a rare Patriots' Day, One Boston Day and Jackie Robinson Day crossover. As some Boston Marathon runners finish up their races, the Red Sox are in the throes of a marathon of their own — they will begin the second-to-last series of a 14-game stretch, and the lineup is showing some signs of wear.
Rafael Devers will get the start at third for the first time since April 10. Boston's star was sidelined for four games to remedy a shoulder injury he's been battling since spring training. Devers' pain was showing in his plate production, or lack thereof. The slugger is batting .184/.326/.395 on the young season and Sox fans haven't seen the typical Devers at the plate this year.
The Red Sox's bench is quite thin due to a slew of other injuries on the roster. Ceddanne Rafaela is set to make his first start at shortstop on a much-needed day off for David Hamilton, who has been holding the starting shortstop spot since Romy González needed a stint on the injured list beginning April 9. Jarren Duran will take Rafaela's usual post in center field and Wilyer Abreu and Tyler O'Neill will round out Boston's outfield on his sides.
Red Sox Patriots' Day lineup features Rafael Devers' return from shoulder injury and Ceddanne Rafaela in a new position
Morning baseball! pic.twitter.com/FggQXcgDaZ
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 15, 2024
Enmanuel Valdez will make his first start at second since the Angels' Miguel Sanó fell on his wrist on April 13. The infielder was pulled from the game after Sanó's knee crunched his hand and he was later diagnosed with a thumb contusion. With Hamilton off and González injured, the Red Sox have little choice but to start Valdez on Marathon Monday.
Kutter Crawford will get the start on the mound against a hot Cleveland Guardians team. The Guardians are fresh off a walk-off victory against the Yankees and the early start is a quick turnaround for both the Cleveland and Boston squads. Crawford has pitched to a 0.57 ERA this season and he's struck out 18 batters over 15.2 innings.
Crawford will hopefully get some run support from his lineup — the Red Sox have been hot in the batter's box and three Sox hit homers to wrap up their series against the Angels on April 14. Tyler O'Neill, MLB's current home runs leader, and Triston Casas went back-to-back for the second time this season, and Masataka Yoshida knocked his first homer to lift the Sox to victory over LA.
Patriots' Day is one of the more popular games for the Red Sox and their fans and hopefully the Sox can carry their hot bats from the Angels series into the exclusive Massachusetts and Maine holiday matchup with Cleveland.