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The Red Sox (16-2) take their ass-kicking road show to NoCal when they kick off a three-game series against the A’s (9-10) tonight in Oakland (10:05 p.m., NESN) behind Drew Pomeranz (NR), looking to extend the best start in Major League Baseball since 1987. That’s good! Read Matt’s series preview here.
About tonight’s game: Pomeranz, whom Matt would also like you to properly respect, makes his 2018 debut after a stellar 2017. He’ll be faced by the struggling Kendall Graveman (0-3, 9.87 ERA), who would almost certainly like to be facing any other big league team this evening.
The big news tonight is that J.D. Martinez has the night off. Hot-hittin’ Mitch Moreland will play first and bat cleanup, while Jackie Bradley Jr. returns to center field, pushing Andrew Benintendi back to left.
About last night: Benintendi hit his first homer of the year, Eduardo Rodriguez notched a quality start and the Sox beat down the previously flying Angels, 8-2. Read the recap here.
Forecast: Low 60s and beautiful.
A good tweet from last night:
Sup baby girl, my name is Andrew Benintendi and if you’re still up I hit that ding dong just for you pic.twitter.com/oKTQh9Dcdx
— Steve Perrault (@Steve_Perrault) April 20, 2018
LINEUPS
Game 19 at A’s
| Lineup Spot | Red Sox | A's |
|---|---|---|
| Lineup Spot | Red Sox | A's |
| 1 | Mookie Betts, RF | Marcus Semien, SS |
| 2 | Andrew Benintendi, LF | Stephen Piscotty, LF |
| 3 | Hanley Ramirez, DH | Jed Lowrie, 2B |
| 4 | Mitch Moreland, 1B | Khris Davis, DH |
| 5 | Rafael Devers, 3B | Matt Chapman, 3B |
| 6 | Eduardo Nunez, 2B | Matt Olson, 1B |
| 7 | Jackie Bradley Jr., CF | Mark Canha, CF |
| 8 | Christian Vazquez, C | Chad Pinder, RF |
| 9 | Brock Holt, SS | Jonathan Lucroy, C |
| SP | Drew Pomeranz, LHP | Kendall Graveman, RHP |