clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Red Sox vs. Yankees: Sandy Leon debuts as rivalry begins anew

It's Red Sox - Yankees time again

By Ben Buchanan
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Red Sox will have Sandy Leon in their lineup for the first time Friday night as they kick off their season series against the New York Yankees.

Boston Red Sox (2-1)

  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. Daniel Nava, RF
  8. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  9. Sandy Leon, C

Starting Pitcher -- Wade Miley

New York Yankees (1-2)

  1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
  2. Brett Gardner, LF
  3. Alex Rodriguez, DH
  4. Mark Teixeira, 1B
  5. Brian McCann, C
  6. Chase Headley, 3B
  7. Chris Young, RF
  8. Stephen Drew, SS
  9. Gregoria Petit, 2B

Starting Pitcher -- Nathan Eovaldi

Ah, it's good to be in an American League park, even if it is the house of the enemy. For the first time this year, David Ortiz and Mike Napoli will both grace Boston's lineup. In the end, it doesn't necessarily look longer than it did in Philadelphia. Ryan Hanigan, after all, can actually hold his own at the plate, while Sandy Leon is more in the Kevin Cash "see three pitches" camp. An unfortunate sacrifice to make in Boston's first game against a division opponent, but Hanigan isn't a guy who can catch 130 games a year.

Making the start on the mound will be Wade Miley, who was tabbed for today's game specifically to keep Justin Masterson away from the Yankees' left-handed hitters. While New York has managed to get five righties in against Miley, two of those (Teixeira and Headley) are switch hitters, while the rest of the non-Rodriguez contingent is made up of Chris Young and Gregorio Petit. Not exactly the heart and soul of New York's offense.

In fact, it's been a pretty slow start in general for the Yankees at the plate, who scored just eight total runs against the Blue Jays' front three of Drew Hutchison, R.A. Dickey, and Daniel Norris. Of the expected contenders, the Red Sox have certainly been flagged as the one with questionable pitching, but they've at least looked good against Philadelphia's even more questionable lineup. Hopefully Wade Miley will prove up to the task of maintaining momentum against a more dangerous bunch in New York.

More From Over the Monster