Pedro Ciriaco will once again get the start at short as the Red Sox open their series against the Tigers in Fenway Park. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. EST with broadcasts on NESN and WEEI.
It's Ciriaco's second straight night starting at short against right-handed starters and third straight in the starting lineup, having provided the game-winning hits in the last two games against the Yankees, even if in bloop fashion. The surprising young shortstop has bounced back from a 1-for-12 slump with a 6-for-13 run against the Rangers and Yankees, leaving him with an .820 OPS through 63 at bats.
The other noteworthy change is that both Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach will start, with Shoppach playing catcher and Salty starting as the DH. It's a bit of a risky move since, if Shoppach has to leave the game, the Sox will be witohut a DH. Will Middlebrooks and Jarrod Saltalamacchia will also swap the fifth and sixth spots in the lineup. The change effectively puts the Sox in more of a L-R-L-R arrangement, given Saltalamacchia's limited offensive abilities as a right-handed batter.
Boston Red Sox (51-51)
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Will Middlebrooks, 3B
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, DH
- Ryan Sweeney, RF
- Kelly Shoppach, C
- Pedro Ciriaco, SS
Detroit Tigers (54-48)
- Austin Jackson, CF
- Quintin Berry, LF
- Miguel Cabrera, 3B
- Prince Fielder, 1B
- Delmon Young, DH
- Brennan Boesch, RF
- Jhonny Peralta, SS
- Alex Avila, C
- Omar Infante, 2B
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