FORT MYERS, Fla. — Ranger Suarez will make his second start in a Red Sox uniform on Sunday, and it will also be his last start before he dons a Team Venezuela uniform in the World Baseball Classic next week.
Suarez is scheduled to take the mound when the Red Sox host the Baltimore Orioles at JetBlue Park on Sunday. Aroldis Chapman, Justin Slaten, Wyatt Olds, Jacob Webb, Tayron Guerrero and Devin Sweet are all expected to pitch for Boston as well.
Sunday will also mark Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras’ final appearances with the Red Sox prior to the tournament. The three Venezuelans will leave Fort Myers following the game to join their national team and begin preparing for their first exhibition against the Houston Astros on Tuesday.
Abreu will bat lead off and start in right field and Willson Contreras will bat third while serving as the designated hitter.
Sunday will also mark the first time that both Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer will start in the infield together. Durbin will start at second and Mayer at third, and manager Alex Cora indicated the two will swap back and forth over the next week as the club works to decide what position each will focus on.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa will start at first base and Andruw Monasterio is expected to sub in midway through the game. Those two, along with Nick Sogard, are currently the top candidates to serve as the backup first baseman until Romy Gonzalez and Triston Casas are back healthy.
Red Sox lineup
Wilyer Abreu RF
Trevor Story SS
Willson Contreras DH
Caleb Durbin 2B
Marcelo Mayer 3B
Carlos Narvaez C
Kristian Campbell CF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa 1B
Allan Castro LF
Ranger Suarez P
How to watch
When: 1:05 p.m.
Where: JetBlue Park, Fort Myers, Fla.
Broadcast info: NESN, NESN 360, WEEI 93.7 FM
