BOSTON — The tarp was on the field at Fenway Park pre-game and the prospect of rain throughout the day exists, but the Red Sox are under the impression that the middle game of their series with the St. Louis Cardinals will be played as scheduled.
The forecast has changed some for the better, with light rain expected, but not intensifying until after 6 p.m., some two hours after the start of the game.
The Red Sox have won three straight, but the lineup has a bit of a different look to it for Saturday. Kristian Campbell, who played second base in the home opener Friday — and had started all but one game there this season – finds himself in the outfield, this time in center field.
Ceddanne Rafaela is sitting Saturday after slashing just .115 /.179/.115 with two walks and four strikeouts. The Red Sox had been urging him to be more selective at the plate, and he was successful in that regard during Grapefruit League play .409 OBP with more walks than strikeouts.
“He’s swinging more, but they’re better swings than last year and more on the fastball than anything else,” said Alex Cora said before Saturday’s game. “We jut have to keep going and talking to him and slowing him down. That’s the most important thing. A lot better with his swing decisions; he’s swinging at strikes and not chasing. Now we just have to make sure he swings less and keeps trying to do hit the ball hard.”
Richard Fitts will be making his second start of the year. Last Sunday, he retired 12 in a row in Texas before giving up the lead with consecutive homers. Fitts has made five major league starts dating back to last year and has gone at least five innings in each of them.
RED SOX (4-4) vs. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (4-3) · FENWAY PARK · BOSTON, MA. · GAME: 9
FIRST PITCH: 4:10 p.m. ET
TV CHANNEL: NESN (Watch on FUBO)
RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM
PITCHING PROBABLES: RHP Richard Fitts (0-1, 4.50) vs. RHP Andre Palante (1-0, 3.60)
RED SOX LINEUP:
1) LF Jarren Duran
2) DH Rafael Devers
3) 3B Alex Bregman
4) 1B Triston Casas
5) SS Trevor Story
6) RF Wilyer Abreu
7) CF Kristian Campbell
8) 2B David Hamilton
9) C Connor Wong
CARDINALS LINEUP:
1) LF Lars Nootbaar
2) DH Wilson Contreras
3) 2B Brendan Donovan
4) 3B Nolan Arenado
5) 1B Alec Burleson
6) RF Jordan Walker
7) C Pedro Pages
8) CF Victor Scott II
9) SS Masyn Winn
