After going 3-7 in their initial homestand, the Red Sox go on the road for a weekend in Pittsburgh and a four-game series in Cleveland.
Alex Cora told reporters that they have chosen not to place Rafael Devers on the injured list – for now, at least – but the slugger will not be in Friday evening’s lineup for the Pirates series opener.
The third baseman only played two of the club’s last seven games, first due to nagging shoulder soreness, and now a bone bruise in his knee. In the likely event that Devers does not get into Friday night’s game at all, he’ll have missed eight of the club’s 21 games so far.
Tyler O’Neill is traveling with the team as he continues to recover from the concussion he sustained in the collision with Devers during the Marathon Monday game. However, the earliest the outfielder can be activated from the 7-day IL is Tuesday, so Rob Refsnyder, freshly-reinstated from the injured list after fracturing a toe during spring training, makes his first start of the season in right field.
Without Devers and O’Neill, the Red Sox are going for a unique lineup and defensive layout. Ceddanne Rafaela will start at shortstop for the second time this season, so leadoff man Jarren Duran is back to starting in center and Wilyer Abreu, who has primarily played right field, is in left.
Bobby Dalbec gets the start at third. The struggling infielder is 0-for-19 with one walk and 12 strikeouts on the season.
Red Sox lineup (April 19)
Jarren Duran CF
Wilyer Abreu LF
Rob Refsnyder RF
Triston Casas 1B
Connor Wong C
Masataka Yoshida DH
Bobby Dalbec 3B
Enmanuel Valdez 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela SS
Pirates lineup (April 19)
Oneil Cruz SS
Bryan Reynolds RF
Ke’Bryan Hayes 3B
Rowdy Tellez 1B
Andrew McCutchen DH
Jack Suwinski LF
Jared Triolo 2B
Michael A. Taylor CF
Henry Davis C
Red Sox vs. Pirates probably starting pitchers
RHP Brayan Bello vs. RHP Quinn Priester
How to watch Red Sox vs. Pirates (April 19)
When: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh PA
TV: NESN,
Radio: WEEI 93.7 FM, WCCM 1490 AM (Spanish)
