The Boston Red Sox were handed a 7-2 loss on Friday to open their three-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Fenway Park, but the two teams will be right back at it on Saturday.
Boston will send Josh Winckowski to the mound for the matchup with Rafael Devers moving back to third base and Mastaka Yoshida making his return to the lineup.
Here's what Alex Cora's full lineup will look like for Game 2:
- Jarren Duran CF
- Rafael Devers 3B
- Tyler O'Neill LF
- Wilyer Abreu RF
- Connor Wong C
- Mastaka Yoshida DH
- Enmanuel Valez 2B
- Bobby Dalbec 1B
- Ceddanne Rafaela SS
Winckowski has been middle of the road in 2024, posting a 4.20 ERA in his eight appearances this season. His only other start this year came against the Pittsburgh Pirates when he went 3 1/3 innings, giving up one run on three hits. Four Cubs have recorded hits off of him in his career - Ian Happ (1-for-3), Nico Hoerner (2-for-3), Christopher Morel (1-for-2) and Patrick Wilson (1-for-5).
Chicago will put Ben Brown on the bump on Saturday. He's posted a 3.72 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP in his 19 1/3 innings over six appearances (two starts). He's never faced any member of Boston's lineup.
If the Red Sox don't win this one, they'll drop another series and lose their ninth game at Fenway Park already this season.
