Red Sox at Padres Lineups: Dumb National League Rules

The Red Sox have some late baseball on Friday for those of us back home on the east coast as they start a three-game series against the up-and-coming Padres. It’s a team we don’t get to see very often — at least against the Red Sox — though we won’t be able to watch young phenom Fernando Tatís Jr. There’s still plenty of young talent besides the shortstop in San Diego, though, including tonight’s starting pitcher Chris Paddack.

Unfortunately, because the National League is stuck halfway through last century, Boston won’t be able to send their full lineup out against him. There is no DH tonight and we’ll be able to see the beautiful strategy of having the pitcher bunt 100 percent of the time there is someone on base — such brilliance!. That pitcher will be Eduardo Rodriguez, and he will not have Jackie Bradley Jr. out in center field. Instead, J.D. Martinez slides from DH to right field while Mookie Betts shifts over to center.

It’s also Players Weekend all around MLB, which is always a fun time. That is, besides the results. The Red Sox have curiously been dreadful for every single one of these in the past few years, but maybe the curse can be broken in what has been a strange year all-around.

The full lineups are below.