:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66363525/usa_today_13423045.0.jpg)
The Red Sox are splitting up the squad this afternoon — with some even staying home to face Eduardo Rodriguez — for a pair of road games. While they are both technically road games, though, one of the matchups is against the crosstown rival Twins, and so that is basically a home game in terms of travel. That is reflected in the lineups, too, with that matchup featuring more regulars. The first spring game of the Twins also means it’s time to re-link this post from a few years ago on the history of the Mayor’s Cup from our friends over at Twinkie Town.
As far as today’s matchup goes, the Red Sox have Nathan Eovaldi on the mound for their game in Fort Myers against Minnesota. It is the righty’s first game of the spring as he looks to stay on the mound and in the rotation in 2020. In Port Charlotte against the Rays, prospect Tanner Houck will get the start. Houck has an outside shot at making the roster out of camp, but is more likely a midseason call-up. The bigger question is him is whether or not he’ll be a starter or reliever at that point, though for right now he is the former.
On the other side of the ball, like I said there are more regulars in the lineup for the Twins game. That one most notably features Christian Vázquez behind the plate as he gets his first action of the spring, and also has Andrew Benintendi, J.D. Martinez, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mitch Moreland. On the other side, it’s more minor-league players, though Michael Chavis and José Peraza are featured in that lineup at first base and shortstop, respectively. It’s interesting to me that Peraza is heading on the road to face the Rays while Jonathan Arauz stays put to face the Twins, with both playing shortstop, but it’s probably not anything to read into.
The full lineups are below:
2/24, at Rays
| Lineup Spot | Red Sox | Rays |
|---|---|---|
| Lineup Spot | Red Sox | Rays |
| 1 | José Peraza, SS | Austin Meadows, LF |
| 2 | Tzu-Wei Lin, 3B | Yandy Díaz, 3B |
| 3 | Michael Chavis, 1B | Ji-Man Choi, 1B |
| 4 | Kevin Plawecki, C | Hunter Renfroe, RF |
| 5 | Rusney Castillo, DH | Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, DH |
| 6 | John Andreoli, LF | Willy Adames, SS |
| 7 | Nick Longhi, RF | Kevin Kiermaier, CF |
| 8 | Jeter Downs, 2B | Chris Hermann, C |
| 9 | Jarren Duran, CF | Joey Wendle, 2B |
| SP | Tanner Houck, RHP | Yonny Chirinos, RHP |
2/24, at Twins
| Lineup Spot | Red Sox | Twins |
|---|---|---|
| Lineup Spot | Red Sox | Twins |
| 1 | Andrew Benintendi, LF | Luis Arraez, 2B |
| 2 | Jackie Bradley Jr., CF | Eddie Rosario, LF |
| 3 | J.D. Martinez, DH | Nelson Crúz, DH |
| 4 | Mitch Moreland, 1B | Alex Avila, C |
| 5 | Christian Vázquez, C | Ehire Adrianza, 1B |
| 6 | Kevin Pillar, RF | Jake Cave, RF |
| 7 | Bobby Dalbec, 3B | Willians Asudillo, 3B |
| 8 | Jonathan Arauz, SS | Royce Lewis, SS |
| 9 | Chad De La Guerra, 2B | GIlberto Celestino, CF |
| SP | Nathan Eovaldi, RHP | Kenta Maeda, RHP |
Neither of these games will be broadcast locally on NESN, but they are both being broadcast by the other teams’ markets which means anyone with an MLB.TV subscription can watch. For those who don’t have that or prefer to listen to games, the matchup against the Twins will be on the radio on 850 AM WEEI. Both games get started with a first pitch at 1:05 PM ET.