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Red Sox vs. Rays lineups: Seeking consistency, Sox turn to Felix Doubront

Felix Doubront will start Thursday night's game, making the Sox' chances of picking up a much-needed series win entirely unlikely.

By Ben Buchanan
Ronald Martinez

The Red Sox will turn to Felix Doubront Thursday night as they seek their first back-to-back wins in two weeks.

Frankly, the decision to start Doubront tonight is puzzling at best. Clay Buchholz could go on normal rest, giving the Red Sox a fantastic opportunity to establish a winning streak--even so small as two games--they so desperately need. It would also keep Doubront, who seems destined for a DL stint with his velocity so diminished--in line with Franklin Morales, who seems likely to replace him at the first possible opportunity.

And yet, here he is, set to try again even though the chances of real change seem slim at best. After all, mechanical problems (which one assumes have to be behind Doubront's struggles) are rarely easy fixes, and if the team had seen significant results in side sessions, one would expect word would've gotten out.

Still, all we can do is hope for a miracle, or a lot of runs from an offense that woke up for at least an inning last night.

Boston Red Sox (23-17)

  1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
  2. Shane Victorino, RF
  3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
  4. David Ortiz, DH
  5. Mike Napoli, 1B
  6. Daniel Nava, LF
  7. Stephen Drew, SS
  8. Will Middlebrooks, 3B
  9. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

Starting Pitcher -- Felix Doubront

Tampa Bay Rays (20-19)

TBA

Starting Pitcher -- Alex Cobb

It's god to see Stephen Drew getting bumped up in the order after a very good first half of May. If he drives in runs, he drives in runs, and if he draws a walk, he'll extend the inning to Will Middlebrooks, who's been a guy who clears the bases when he gets hits of late.

Really, though, this one's in Doubront's hands. If he can survive, so can the Red Sox. If he can't, which seems as likely as not, this will be an opportunity to seize some momentum thrown willfully away.

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