Red Sox lineup: Trevor Story moves up in lineup; Brayan Bello 6.47 career ERA vs. Rays; Nick Sogard starts at second base
The Red Sox enter the series finale with the Rays just 3 1/2 games behind the Tigers and Twins for the final American League wild-card spot.
The Twins dropped a 10-inning afternoon game against the Guardians, moving the Tigers into a tie for the final wild-card spot.
Boston will turn to Brayan Bello to help clinch a series win at the Trop. Bello is 4-2 in his last six starts; on the flip side, he is 2-3 with a 6.47 ERA in six starts against the Rays.
The Rays will counter with former Red Sox righty Zack Littell (7-9, 3.73 ERA). He is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA in three career appearances and two starts versus the Sox. Littell has thrown back-to-back scoreless starts of five or more innings for the first time in his career, becoming the third Ray to turn the trick this season, joining Taj Bradley and Zach Eflin.
Josh Lowe is 7-for-15 (.467) against Bello in his career with a homer and a 1.267 OPS.
Trevor Story will bat higher in the lineup after helping the Sox in their 2-1 on Wednesday night. Story homered in the sixth inning and scored in the eighth from the eventually Jarren Duran game-winning hit.
Nick Sogard will start at second base and bat ninth, giving Ceddanne Rafaela the night off. The rookie has a two-game hitting streak; he is 3-for-6 with an RBI over that span. This will be his 11th start at second base for Boston this season.
Tyler O’Neill has been ice cold in the series and is hitless in his last nine at-bats with a walk. Despite that, he has six homers in the last 11 games.
Red Sox roster moves
Boston activated right-handed reliever Lucas Sims off the injured list and optioned Bailey Horn back to Triple-A Worcester. Sims has been out since Aug. 27 with a right lat strain; he has made two rehab appearances with the WooSox.
In 11 games with the Red Sox, Sims owns an 8.10 ERA, giving up nine earned runs in 10 innings. Horn has appeared in 18 games for the Sox, and he posted a 6.50 ERA, surrendering 13 earned runs over 18 innings.
Luis Garcia is also with the team and could be activated if Kenley Jansen is placed on the injured list. The veteran closer is dealing with a shoulder issue, according to the Boston Globe’s Peter Abraham.
Key stats and Red Sox lineup
Red Sox vs. Littell: Wilyer Abreu 0-6, Rafael Devers 2-5, Jarren Duran 3-6, Tyler O’Neill 2-11, Ceddanne Rafaela 0-4, Rob Refsnyder 1-3, Trevor Story 0-1
Rays vs. Bello: Jonathan Aranda 4-9, José Caballero 3-4, Junior Caminero 0-3, Jonny DeLuca 0-2, Yandy DÃaz 5-10, Brandon Lowe 1-4, Josh Lowe 7-15, Christopher Morel 2-3, Ben Rortvedt 0-4, Taylor Walls 1-9
Red Sox (76-76) lineup at Rays (74-78):
Jarren Duran CF
Rafael Devers 3B
Tyler O’Neill LF
Masataka Yoshida DH
Trevor Story SS
Triston Casas 1B
Danny Jansen C
Wilyer Abreu RF
Nick Sogard 2B
SP: RHP Brayan Bello (14-7, 4.60 ERA)
The first pitch is at 6:50 p.m. and can be seen on NESN, Fubo, and Sling TV, and it can be heard on WEEI 93.7 FM.
