The Boston Red Sox are looking to complete a sweep of the Colorado Rockies as they face off in the series finale at Fenway Park. All eyes are on the mound as Lucas Giolito takes the start for Boston, aiming to continue his impressive run of form. Giolito has been a dominant force lately, pitching at least six innings in each of his last five starts and boasting a stellar 4-0 record with a minuscule 0.83 ERA during that stretch.
Yoshida Returns to the Lineup
Adding to the excitement, Masataka Yoshida is back in the Red Sox lineup after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Yoshida will serve as the designated hitter, providing a boost to the team's offense. Manager Alex Cora plans to platoon Yoshida with Rob Refsnyder, with Yoshida expected to start against right-handed pitchers. His return creates a bit of a logjam in the outfield, forcing Cora to make some tough decisions regarding playing time for other outfielders like Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela.
Rafaela Sits as Anthony Gets a Start
In a surprising move, the red-hot Ceddanne Rafaela will be on the bench for this game against Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela. Rafaela has been tearing the cover off the ball recently, hitting .321 with a .996 OPS in his last 36 games. Rookie Roman Anthony will take his place in left field, making his first start at Fenway Park. Jarren Duran shifts from left field to center field to accommodate Anthony's presence.
The Rockies will counter with Antonio Senzatela on the mound. Senzatela has struggled this season, holding a 3-12 record with a 6.57 ERA. The Red Sox will look to capitalize on Senzatela's struggles and secure their fifth consecutive win.
- Rockies Lineup: Freeman DH, Beck LF, McMahon 3B, Toglia 1B, Doyle CF, Arcia SS, Fernandez RF, Farmer 2B, Nola C
- Red Sox Lineup: Duran CF, Anthony LF, Story SS, Abreu RF, Narváez C, Yoshida DH, Gonzalez 1B, Mayer 3B, Hamilton 2B
Will Giolito continue his dominance? Can Yoshida make an immediate impact upon his return? Tune in to find out!