Red Sox lineup: Rafael Devers with 8 career homers vs. Gerrit Cole; Brayan Bello starts; Penrod & Horn promoted
The Red Sox are coming off a back-breaking 5-4 loss to the Yankees on Friday night. Aaron Judge was the hero, crushing a grand slam, that broke his 16-game homerless streak, and in the process, the bullpen ruined a solid start from rookie Richard Fitts.
Rafael Devers will hope to get back on track against Yankees starter Gerrit Cole. Devers is 3-for-39 (.333) with eight homers and 18 RBI against Cole. The All-Star third baseman is .175 (10-for-57) since he last went deep on Aug. 25. He went 1-for-3 in the Red Sox’ 5-4 loss on Friday night.
Cole is 7-5 with a 4.84 ERA in 18 regular-season starts against the Red Sox. He got a no-decision against Boston on July 6 after permitting four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 frames.
Brayan Bello is attempting to win consecutive starts for the first time since he won his final three starts prior to the All-Star break. Bello is making his eighth career start against the Yankees and is 2-3 with a 2.66 ERA and has 34 strikeouts over 40 2/3 innings.
Boston is 18-9 when Bello starts and is 5-2 over his last seven outings and 7-3 in his last 10. In his last start, Bello tossed a career-high eight scoreless frames on Aug. 28 against the Blue Jays, striking out nine batters.
Ceddanne Rafaela will get the day off, and Enmanuel Valdez will bat last and play second base. Danny Jansen will catch and is 2-for-10 (.200) against Cole in his career with a homer, three strikeouts, and two walks.
Jarren Duran went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in the loss on Friday. His three-hit game was his 17th of the year, which is tied for third most in the big leagues behind the Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (19).
Red Sox & MiLB news and notes
The Red Sox promoted left-handed pitchers Zach Penrod and Bailey Horn from Triple-A Worcester. Boston optioned right-handed reliever Zack Kelly and lefty Cam Booser to the WooSox.
To make room for Penrod on the 40-man roster, the Sox designated catcher Tyler Heineman for assignment.
Penrod has pitched in 22 games (12 starts) for Double-A Portland (seven games) and Worcester (15 games) this season, recording a 4.16 ERA (29 ER/62.2 IP) with 93 strikeouts. The southpaw will wear No. 67 with the Red Sox.
Boston (74-74) will try to avoid falling under .500 for the first time since June 11 with Saturday afternoon’s game. The Red Sox are on a seven-game road losing streak, and they trail the Twins by 4 1/2 games for the third American League wild-card spot.
Key stats and Red Sox lineup
Red Sox vs. Cole: Wilyer Abreu 0-3, Triston Casas 3-5, Rafael Devers 13-39, Jarren Duran 3-15, Danny Jansen 2-10, Tyler O’Neill 1-2, Ceddanne Rafaela 0-2, Rob Refsnyder 0-6, Trevor Story 3-17, Enmanuel Valdez 1-1, Connor Wong 2-3, Masataka Yoshida 1-7
Yankees vs. Bello: Jon Berti 0-2, Oswaldo Cabrera 3-15, Jazz Chisholm Jr. 1-6, Trent Grisham 1-1, Aaron Judge 2-11, Anthony Rizzo 1-9, Juan Soto 1-6, Giancarlo Stanton 2-10, Gleyber Torres 6-18, Jose Trevino 2-10, Alex Verdugo 3-5, Anthony Volpe 5-10, Austin Wells 0-2
In the Red Sox last 34 games (beginning Aug. 9), Boston’s starting pitchers rank fifth in the American League and sixth in the majors with a 3.20 ERA (62 ER/174.1 IP).
Red Sox (74-74) lineup at Yankees (86-62):
Jarren Duran CF
Rafael Devers 3B
Tyler O’Neill LF
Masataka Yoshida DH
Wilyer Abreu RF
Triston Casas 1B
Trevor Story SS
Danny Jansen C
Enmanuel Valdez 2B
SP: RHP Brayan Bello (13-7, 4.70 ERA)
The first pitch is at 1:05 p.m. and can be seen on NESN, Fubo, and Sling TV, and it can be heard on WEEI 93.7 FM.
