The Red Sox will kick off their three-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays with Daisuke Matsuzaka on the mound against Aaron Laffey Friday night. First pitch is at 7:07 p.m. EST with broadcasts on NESN and WEEI.
So it's come to this. The lineup has degenerated bit by bit, but tonight, with a lefty on the mound and Dustin Pedroia still absent from the team, they've reached a new low. Mike Aviles, playing second base, batting third. Ryan Lavarnway in for Jarrod Saltalamacchia behind the dish. Daniel Nava, Mauro Gomez, Pedro Ciriaco...It's September 14, and this is the Red Sox lineup.
It can get lower, sure. Jacoby Ellsbury could miss out in favor of, say, Che-Hsuan Lin. Or, even worse, Cody Ross could be absent for one reason or another. But even without it being the worst-case scenario, it's awfully ugly.
Boston Red Sox (64-80)
- Pedro Ciriaco, 3B
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Mike Aviles, 2B
- Cody Ross, RF
- Mauro Gomez, DH
- Ryan Lavarnway, C
- Daniel Nava, LF
- James Loney, 1B
- Jose Iglesias, SS
Toronto Blue Jays (65-77)
- Rajai Davis, LF
- Colby Rasmus, CF
- Brett Lawrie, 3B
- Adam Lind, 1B
- Yunel Escobar, SS
- Kelly Johnson, 2B
- J.P. Arencibia, C
- Moises Sierra, DH
- Anthony Gose, RF
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