Red Sox at Twins lineup: Let’s play one! (And ONLY one)

The Red Sox (40-35), sore from the lack of a good night’s sleep and the end of a winning streak at the hands of the dastardly Twins (48-24), look to get back on board versus the same tonight in Minnesota (8:10 p.m.).

Eduardo Rodriguez will start for the Red Sox, and he’ll face Kyle Gibson, metaphorically, at least. I’ve played a huge amount of stickball and in those games the pitcher always had to bat, and the “pitcher vs. pitcher” matchup on a team of three on three or four on four determined who won or lost. It wasn’t just that the pitcher hit against the other pitcher; it’s that they did so repeatedly, leading to a direct showdown that’s mostly lost even in the National League, where the pitcher’s spot can usually be finessed for at least half of the game. I think it works that way, at least — I try not to watch the N.L.

This is a classic American League matchup of teams with similar colors, and it speaks to me. If you read this column every day, you’ll remember me speaking to you yesterday, saying that Alex Cora was likely cycling through some lineups. Well, kinda! It looks like this is The Lineup Right Now, and the only change tonight is Sandy León at the catcher’s spot, batting ninth. The Twins play Willians Astudillo at second, and that’s the only thing that matters. Except the game going nine and the Sox winning. In that order.