The Boston Red Sox meet the Houston Astros for Game 1 of the ALCS Friday night at 8:07 p.m. ET. Here’s the starting lineup for the Red Sox, who hope to come out on top in the rematch of the 2018 ALCS.
We’ll be updating this file each day with the lineups during the series.
Red Sox starting lineup for Game 2 vs. Astros
Kyle Schwarber, 1B (L)
Kike Hernandez, CF (R)
Rafael Devers, 3B (L)
Xander Bogaerts, SS (R)
Alex Verdugo, LF (L)
JD Martinez, DH (R)
Hunter Renfroe, RF (R)
Kevin Plawecki, C (R)
Christian Arroyo, 2B (R)
The only switch player-wise is Plawecki will catch Nathan Eovaldi in Game 2. Kike moves back to the 2-hole while Devers jumps Bogaerts in the lineup. Martinez was also dropped down for Verdugo. So a lot of movement in this one. This staggers lefties and righties in the lineup a bit better at 1-6 in the order.
Red Sox starting lineup for Game 1 vs. Astros
Enrique Hernandez, CF (R)
Kyle Schwarber, 1B (L)
Xander Bogaerts, SS (R)
Rafael Devers, 3B (L)
J.D. Martinez, DH (R)
Hunter Renfroe, RF (R)
Alex Verdugo, LF (L)
Christian Arroyo, 2B (R)
Christian Vázquez, C (R)
Martinez missed Game 1 of the ALDS but has been back since then and is a key piece of this lineup. The Red Sox are leaning on Verdugo and Renfroe to continue delivering big hits to extend the power portion of this lineup. The Red Sox are leaning on right-hand bats with lefty Framber Valdez on the mound for the Astros, featuring six right-hand batters in their lineup for Game 1.