Red Sox at Padres Lineups: Goin’ for the sweep

The Red Sox are making their final push to get back into the postseason race, and while they are going to need plenty of help from the other wildcard contenders in the American League, they are doing their part of late. Boston has won seven of their last nine, which doesn’t include the walk-off win to finish off the suspended game on Thursday. They are looking to make it eight out of ten as well as a sweep out in San Diego in the final game in this three-game set against the Padres.

As they look for the sweep, they will be without Andrew Benintendi in this game. The left fielder left Saturday’s game with tightness in his side, though it doesn’t appear to be serious. Alex Cora indicated following last night’s win that Sunday was going to be an off-day for Benintendi regardless. In his place, Jackie Bradley Jr. will get his first start of the series with Mookie Betts going back to right field and J.D. Martinez moving across the outfield to left. Elsewhere in the lineup, with Boston going up against a southpaw in Joey Lucchesi, Sam Travis is at first with Chris Owings at second.

On the mound, the Red Sox will turn to Brian Johnson in what could be a second consecutive day with a heavy workload from the bullpen. Johnson has not thrown more than 3 ²⁄₃ innings since he returned from the IL in early August. Nathan Eovaldi, of course, pitched into the fourth on Saturday but didn’t record any outs there. Boston does have a day off on Monday, which should make things at least a little easier for Cora. Additionally, Johnson is one of the few Red Sox pitchers with some hitting experience as a former two-way star at the University of Florida, so an interleague matchup is good for him in that sense at least.

The full lineups are below: