After a day off, the Red Sox return to action with a three-game series with the Diamondbacks, beginning Friday night. It marks the opening of an eight-game home stand, as the Red Sox will host the Blue Jays for five games in four days, starting with a doubleheader on Monday.
The Sox are coming off of a 4-3 road trip in which they followed a four-game split with the Orioles by taking two of three at Houston. They enter this weekend 3½ games back for the final American League wild-card spot.
The Diamondbacks, who reached the World Series last year, have won nine of their last 12 and own the top spot for the NL wild card. They trail the Dodgers by four games for first place in the NL West.
Red Sox Lineup: O’Neill Scratched Due to Finger Inflammation
The Boston Red Sox lineup looked whole again for the past week with Triston Casas and Tyler O'Neill back in it.
But the Red Sox were without one of those sluggers when they kicked off an eight-game homestand Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Red Sox scratched O'Neill from the lineup about 90 minutes before first pitch Friday due to left fourth finger inflammation. O'Neill, who is second on the Red Sox in home runs with 22, was slated to bat fifth against Diamondbacks starter Ryne Nelson and play left field. Rob Refsnyder will take O'Neill's place in the order and spot in the field.
O'Neill just came out of the injured list this past Saturday after a bizarre left leg infection caused him to miss 13 games. He went 2-for-15 at the plate since returning and perhaps the finger ailment is a reason for his recent offensive struggles.
O'Neill came to the Red Sox with an injury history and injuries have been part of his first season with Boston. He has spent three separate stints on the IL this season. The first came for a concussion just a few weeks into the season after a vicious collision with Rafael Devers and he headed back to the IL in late May due to right knee inflammation.
The Red Sox slugger, who is batting .262 with 46 RBIs, has played in 84 games this season. He has surpassed the 100-game mark only once in his career.
Casas Returns to Fenway
The Red Sox lineup did have one notable addition, though, as Triston Casas is back in the lineup for the first time since April 18. Casas missed 98 games on the IL with a ribcage injury, but he returned during Boston’s latest 4-3 road trip at Baltimore and Houston. He went 8-for-23 (.348) with a homer, four RBIs, four runs, four walks and nine strikeouts in six games. Teammate Jarren Duran called him an “absolute machine.”
Here is the full lineup for Friday’s game:
- Jarren Duran CF
- Wilyer Abreu RF
- Triston Casas 1B
- Rafael Devers 3B
- Rob Refsnyder LF
- Masataka Yoshida DH
- Danny Jansen C
- David Hamilton 2B
- Ceddanne Rafaela SS
Pitching Matchup
The Red Sox will send Brayan Bello to the mound while Arizona will counter with Ryne Nelson.
Bello has been all right for Boston this season, posting a 4.80 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP while striking out 120 batters in 23 starts. He’s allowed three or fewer runs in his last seven outings. Three Diamondbacks have recorded hits against him in his career - Josh Bell (1-for-5 with a solo home run), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (1-for-6) and Eugenio Suarez (2-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs and a walk).
Nelson has been slightly better for Arizona in his 23 appearances (21 starts), posting a 4.35 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP while striking out 101 batters. He’s allowed two or fewer runs in three of his last four starts. Only one Red Sox has ever faced him in his career - Danny Jansen (1-for-2).
The Diamondbacks are Coming Off a Strong Second Half
Arizona enters with a 23-8 record during the second half, including a 14-5 mark in August. The Dbacks just swept a three-game series at Miami.
A Look Back at the Diamondbacks History
The Diamondbacks are a relatively new team, having joined the MLB in 1998, but they have made a significant impact in a short time. Their biggest accomplishment was winning the World Series in 2001, just their fourth season in the league.
The Diamondbacks were also a powerhouse team in the early 2000s, consistently making the playoffs and challenging for the NL West title. However, they have struggled in recent years, but this season’s strong second half suggests they might be back on track.
The Diamondbacks have a talented roster, with young stars like Corbin Carroll and Zac Gallen leading the way. They also have a strong pitching staff, which has been a key to their success in recent seasons.
Looking Ahead: Can the Red Sox Keep Up with the Diamondbacks?
The Red Sox have a tough task ahead of them as they try to keep up with the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks have been one of the hottest teams in baseball in recent weeks, and they will be a tough opponent at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox have a strong lineup of their own, but they will need to play well to win this series. They will also need to get good pitching performances from their starters. This weekend will be a test for the Red Sox, and it will be interesting to see how they respond.
The Red Sox will need to keep the momentum going after their recent road trip, especially with the Blue Jays coming to town next week. But they will need to get past the Diamondbacks first.
The game starts at 7:10 p.m. ET on Friday night.
