In the finale of a four-game series against the Rays and a seven-game homestand on Thursday, the Red Sox will be sending rookie left-hander Kyle Hart to the mound for what will be his major-league debut.
Opposing Hart will be right-hander Tyler Glasnow for Tampa Bay. The soon-to-be 27-year-old has gotten off to a slow start this year, posting a 5.56 ERA and 5.27 FIP through his first three starts and 11 1/3 innings pitched of 2020.
In three outings against the Red Sox last year, Glasnow allowed a total of four earned runs over 15 total innings of work. That’s good for a 2.40 ERA and a .648 OPS against, for what it’s worth.
Here’s how the Red Sox will be lining up against Glasnow and behind Hart on Thursday evening:
As noted by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, the reason Xander Bogaerts is being held out of the lineup is because he “has some fatigue in his lower half” and Sox manager Ron Roenicke “wanted to give him a rest.” The All-Star shortstop is available off the bench, however, and he will be in the lineup against the Yankees on Friday night.
Bogaerts had cooled off at the plate over the past week or so (3-for-his-last-16), so perhaps this bit of rest will come at an opportune time for him.
With Bogaerts out of the lineup to at least begin things on Thursday, Jose Peraza will start at shortstop, while Jonathan Arauz, who has six hits in his last nine at-bats, will slide in over at second.
Also worth pointing out, Kevin Plawecki, who is 7-for-his-first-14 this year, will be catching Hart while Christian Vazquez gets the day off.
Per MLB.com’s game longs, Plawecki caught Hart once during the first version of spring training back on February 28.
First pitch Thursday is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. eastern time on NESN and WEEI. Red Sox looking to avoid the four-game sweep before hopping on a flight to Newark.
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