Red Sox vs. Blue Jays lineups: Jackie Bradley Jr. returns

Jackie Bradley is back with the team and in the lineup Friday night as they return home to face the Blue Jays.

It's great to have JBJ back, but what the Red Sox really need right now is a nice long outing from David Price and then maybe one or two clean innings from the bullpen. We Boston fans can, at times, be a reactionary lot, and suffice it to say these last two games have done a number on the confidence in the pitching staff.  It would be nice to have some pushback in a positive direction to calm the city's collective nerves.

And of late, Price has been the guy to deliver that. Or at least one of them. It might take some time for the season numbers to reach a good place, so bad was his start. But since "the fix," Price has thrown 27.1 innings, allowing 8 runs (2.63 ERA) with a 26:6 K:BB. He hasn't quite had the extra-long shutout statement type of performance (though he did have that one huge K game), but the Red Sox would certainly take seven two-run innings again.

First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. ET with broadcasts on NESN and WEEI.