WooSox lineup: Vaughn Grissom returns, Liam Hendriks expected to pitch in relief
The Red Sox are coming off an unsuccessful roadtrip with the Tigers and Mets, where they went 1-5 and fell to 5 1/2 games behind the Royals for the final wild-card spot in the American League.
Boston is off on Thursday night, but the WooSox are on the road to play the Rochester Red Wings from Innovative Field. The WooSox are winners of their last three games, including taking the first two games of the series with the Red Wings.
Vaughn Grissom is back in the lineup after he was scratched before Wednesday night’s game. The 23-year-old is dealing with lower body soreness, according to a source. Boston was not concerned over his removal from the lineup.
While with the WooSox, Grissom has batted .238/.343/.340/.683 with four homers, three doubles, 25 RBI, 15 runs, 36 strikeouts, 20 walks, and eight stolen bases (41 games). He will bat fifth and play second base.
Trevor Story will play shortstop in back-to-back games, but it’s not clear if he will play a full nine innings. The rehabbing veteran played seven innings on Wednesday night and will have Friday off. Boston will reassess where Story is at within his rehab before deciding if he will rejoin the team for the White Sox series or stay with Worcester.
Liam Hendriks is expected to work in relief again on Thursday night. He has thrown three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with one strikeout in three relief outings for the WooSox.
Red Sox top prospect Roman Anthony is coming off a 2-for-3 night where he doubled and drove in two runs while stealing a base. He is riding a three game hitting streak and is hitting .364 during the month of September. Anthony wrapped up the month of August crushing Double-A and Triple-A pitching.
The recently named No. 2 prospect by Baseball America finished August with a .343 average with five homers, 17 RBI, and a .562 slugging percentage.
Key stats and Red Sox lineup
Jason Alexander makes his 23rd start of the year and is coming off a five-inning performance against the Toledo MudHens last week at Polar Park. The righty gave up one earned run off three hits while walking one, giving up a homer and striking out six.
Alexander is winless in his last nine outings. He earned a loss back on July 26 versus Scranton and posted a 5.32 ERA during the month of August.
The Red Wings will send out Jackson Rutledge, who is 4-8 with a 6.88 ERA this season. The righty tied a season-high when he hurled seven innings and struck out a season-high nine batters on July 31 vs. Omaha.
WooSox (68-65) lineup at the Rochester Red Wings (71-61):
Roman Anthony CF
Trevor Story SS
Kristian Campbell 3B
Kyle Teel C
Vaughn Grissom 2B
Jamie Westbrook RF
Bobby Dalbec 1B
Eddy Alvarez LF
Tyler Heineman DH
SP: RHP Jason Alexander (4-6, 4.59 ERA)
The first pitch is at 6:05 p.m. and can be seen on Bally Live and MiLB.TV. Radio coverage for the game begins at 5:45 p.m. on 98.9 Nash Icon and the WooSox Radio Network.
