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Red Sox vs. Rays: The starting nine (ft. Swihart)?

Blake Swihart is in the starting lineup Sunday afternoon. Does that mean he'll be there next Monday as well?

By Ben Buchanan
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Red Sox have Blake Swihart in with the starting lineup Sunday afternoon as they take on the Tampa Bay Rays once more.

Boston Red Sox (12-10)

  1. Mookie Betts, CF
  2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
  3. David Ortiz, DH
  4. Hanley Ramirez, LF
  5. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
  6. Mike Napoli, 1B
  7. Shane Victorino, RF
  8. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  9. Blake Swihart, C

The question is: do we call this Blake Swihart and the starters, or just the starters? With Christian Vazquez headed to see Dr. James Andrews, it's pretty clear the Red Sox are going to need a long-term replacement behind the plate. And with so little time left to them in spring, one would expect they would not waste games back there on a player who won't be breaking camp with the team at this point.

Swihart's presence today is not a guarantee of his presence on Opening Day, or even as Hanigan's backup. But it's perhaps a sign that the Red Sox are leaning in his direction, at least to start the season.

First pitch is at 1:05 p.m. ET, with broadcasts on NESN, WEEI, and the MLB Network, so you won't have to wait until 6 AM the following day to watch this time.

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