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The Boston Red Sox will be looking for their sixth straight win when they take on the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Monday night.
The Sox can reach the 40-win mark with a victory tonight and put themselves six games over .500. Rick Porcello will be tasked with shutting down the Twins high-powered offense, and it’ll be quite difficult.
The Twins have the best record in baseball at 47-23 and they’re playing some of their best baseball this season. With guys like Nelson Cruz, Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler, the Twins certainly appear ready to be contending for a World Series trophy this year. It won’t be too easy though, as their pitching staff is good, but not at the same level as their elite offense.
The Sox are countering the Twins heavy-hitting offense with guys like Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts, who are trending in the right direction as of late. They also have Andrew Benintendi in the lineup hitting second after he was scratched from Sunday’s lineup.
It’s not going to be an easy series for the Red Sox, and it will certainly be a test for a team who has played well below expectations all season. If the bats can get going, and if Rick Porcello can give at least six innings, then they’ll have a chance.
Here are Monday night’s full starting lineups:
Red Sox at Twins, Game 74
| Lineup Spot | Red Sox | Twins |
|---|---|---|
| Lineup Spot | Red Sox | Twins |
| 1 | Mookie Betts, RF | Max Kepler, CF |
| 2 | Andrew Benintendi, LF | Jorge Polanco, SS |
| 3 | J.D. Martinez, DH | Nelson Cruz, DH |
| 4 | Rafael Devers, 3B | Eddie Rosario, LF |
| 5 | Xander Bogaerts, SS | C.J. Cron, 1B |
| 6 | Brock Holt, 2B | Marwin Gonzalez, RF |
| 7 | Michael Chavis, 1B | Miguel Sanó, 3B |
| 8 | Jackie Bradley Jr., CF | Jason Castro, C |
| 9 | Sandy León, C | Jonathan Schoop, 2B |
| SP | Rick Porcello, RHP | José Berríos, RHP |