BOSTON -- The lineup that worked so well again a rookie pitcher on Thursday night will get a shot at another first-time hurler on Friday.
There are no changes to the Red Sox batting order -- which struck for eight runs in the first inning against Toronto's Matt Boyd en route to last night's 12-4 win over the Blue Jays -- as the Sox prepare to face Houston's Dan Straily, who is making his first major-league appearance of the season. Straily does have MLB experience, however, having gone 13-12 with a 4.54 ERA in 48 games (42 of them starts) for the A's and Cubs from 2012-14.
Justin Masterson takes the hill for the Sox in his second start since returning from the disabled list with right shoulder tendonitis. In that first start, he earned the win after allowing one run on five hits in 5.0 innings of work. Masterson is making his 9th start of the season and 5th at Fenway Park.
"The one thing that stood out in his last game was just the location and the late action to his stuff in the strike zone," John Farrell said of Masterson. "There's going to be a few more left-handers in this lineup than five days ago in Tampa. How he negates them with a constant mix will be important. More than anything, just the bottom of the strike zone will be key."
Masterson has never faced the Astros in his career but since 2013 has posted a 2-3 record, 4.17 ERA, and .244 opponent batting average in six starts against the AL West.
Tonight's lineups:
RED SOX:
Mookie Betts, CF
Brock Holt, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, LF
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Mike Napoli, 1B
Alejandro De Aza, RF
Ryan Hanigan, C
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Justin Masterson, P
Boston Red Sox
ASTROS:
Jose Altuve, 2B
Preston Tucker, RF
Carlos Correa, SS
Luis Valbuena, 3B
Evan Gattis, LF
Jon Singleton, DH
Chris Carter, 1B
Jason Castro, C
Alex Presley, CF
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Dan Straily, P