Red Sox vs. Tigers lineups: Shaw returns, Owens starts

The Red Sox will tab Henry Owens for a spot start Sunday afternoon as they try to earn a series win off the Tigers.

Well, this game isn't what we thought it was going to be. Instead of Eduardo Rodriguez getting a chance to continue his excellent run through the second half and earn the series win for the Sox, it's Henry Owens trying to prove that he's not the same pitcher who was such an utter wreck in the beginning of the year.

To his credit, there are some signs that's the case. In 36 innings of work since the Triple-A All-Star break, Owens has pitched to a 2.72 ERA. The walks are still higher than you might like, but not nearly so utterly ridiculous as they were to start the season, and his K-rate is up slightly too, nudging up over one per inning. He's allowed just two earned runs total over his last three starts, and had one of his best outings of the year last time he took the mound, throwing seven innings of one-run ball on five hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. Two hit batsmen is a bit of a black mark, yes, but still. Progress!

Meanwhile, in the lineup, Travis Shaw gets his first start since the 17th. It's not clear where exactly he stands in the eyes of management after three awful weeks in August. He at least seems to have slumped his way out of a full-time job. What remains to be seen is if he's fallen into an equal time share with Hill and Holt, and just how far he is from reclaiming his spot as the first choice at third base if so.

First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. ET with broadcasts on NESN, TBS, and WEEI.