While the All-Star break is still a few weeks away, the numerical halfway point of the season is upon us for the Red Sox. Since MLB has outlawed ties, the most .500 team you ever did see (currently 40-40) will have to settle for being a game above or below .500 when they finish this one.
On the mound, Garrett Crochet will once again be tasked with righting the ship after a loss.
As far as the position player side of things go, the Red Sox are featuring yet another new lineup with Marcelo Mayer making his major league debut at second base. Perhaps its a preview of where we’ll be seeing more of him when Alex Bregman returns? Ideally he’ll look as good there tonight as he has at third base.
Other than that, the platoon patrol is out in full force once again with Rob Refsnyder, Romy Gonzalez, and Nate Eaton all getting the start against lefty, Tyler Anderson. In fact, six of the nine Sox hitters bat right handed to start the game, which sounds like a really effective plan on paper, until you factor in that lefties actually have a higher career OPS against Anderson (.775) than righties (.739).
First Pitch: 9:38p.m (ET).
TV: NESN
Radio: WEEI
