Red Sox at Pirates lineup: Leaving home, undefeated

Five games and five wins into their winter schedule, the Red Sox, sans the newly signed J.D. Martinez, finally leave the comfort of jetBlue Park and Ft. Myers when they face the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon at 1:05 p.m. in Bradenton, Florida.

Through five games, three of them in Grapefruit League competition, the Red Sox haven’t lost, and Blake Swihart has done a ton of damage. After yesterday’s monster game, he’s up to .600 for February. That’s good for the ubiquitous Swihart stans, though perhaps less good for those with good memories:

Still, enjoy it while it lasts! It’s easy to tease Swihart, but he seems to have a clear role on Alex Cora’s team, and it’s been a long, tough time coming.

Righty Justin Haley gets the start on the Sox today for the Sox today and will be backed up by lefties Fernando Rodriguez and Bobby Poyner, the latter of whom could be a useful bullpen piece this year and whom I like very much. Talk about him, and more, in the gamethread below. Here is the starting lineup:

1. Brock Holt, 2B
2. Andrew Benintendi, LF
3. Rafael Devers, 3B
4. Christian Vazquez, C
5. Blake Swihart, DH
6. Sam Travis, 1B
7. Jeremy Barfield, RF
8. Deven Marrero, SS
9. Rusney Castillo, CF

SP: Justin Haley, RHP