Red Sox look to snap five-game losing streak; Pivetta on the bump, Abreu will bat cleanup
The Red Sox return home to Fenway Park to begin a key three-game series with the White Sox. Boston is 5 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot with just 22 games remaining.
With the playoffs seemingly out of reach, the Sox are not dead just yet. Nick Pivetta will make his sixth career start against the White Sox, and he owns a 1-0 record with a 1.72 ERA with 33 strikeouts and seven walks. Pivetta’s last start against Chicago came on July 23, 2023, where he tossed seven scoreless innings where he gave up three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
Devers is back in the No. 2 hole in the lineup after going hitless (0-for-13) in the series against the Mets. In his last 13 games, Devers is 6-for-50 (.120) after he hit .351 in his previous 23 games.
Jarren Duran takes a six-game hitting streak into the series opener and will lead off. The All-Star currently ranks third in the Majors in bWAR (8.6) and 6th in fWAR (6.7).
Wilyer Abreu will bat out of the cleanup spot. The rookie outfielder has only occupied that spot 13 times before the game on Friday night.
Tyler O’Neill is coming off a 4-for-12 performance in the Mets series, he has hits in his last four games. The slugger has struggled over the last 14 games since returning off the injured list on Aug. 17 and has hit .180(9-for-50) with a .641 OPS and three homers.
The White Sox have lost 109 games, and the Red Sox are getting them at key time on their schedule. It should be noted that both teams split a four-game series in Chicago back in June.
Red Sox roster moves
The Red Sox designated left-handed pitcher Rich Hill for assignment prior to Friday night’s game. The team recalled righty Luis Guerrero from Triple-A Worcester.
Hill pitched in just four games since signing with the Sox in August. The southpaw allowed two runs (4.91 ERA) in 3 2/3 innings, including two walks in a 1/3 of an inning against the Mets on Wednesday night.
Guerrero has been a strikeout machine for the WooSox, owning a 13.09 strikeouts per nine innings (79 strikeouts). The hard-throwing righty has posted a 3.31 ERA and has a 0.68 ERA with 23 strikeouts since Aug. 4 for Worcester.
Key stats and Red Sox lineup
White Sox vs. Pivetta: Andrew Benintendi 1-9, Korey Lee 0-2, Nicky Lopez 3-5, Luis Robert Jr. 2-11, Gavin Sheets 0-9, Lenyn Sosa 1-2, Miguel Vargas 0-1, Andrew Vaughn 1-5
Red Sox vs. Martin: Has not faced any Boston batters
Red Sox (70-70) lineup vs. the White Sox (32-109):
Jarren Duran CF
Rafael Devers 3B
Tyler O’Neill LF
Wilyer Abreu RF
Masataka Yoshida DH
Triston Casas 1B
Connor Wong C
Enmanuel Valdez 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela
SP: RHP Nick Pivetta (5-10, 4.53 ERA)
The first pitch is at 7:10 p.m. and can be seen on NESN, FuboTV, or Sling, and it can be heard on WEEI 93.7 FM.
