BOSTON -- The Red Sox' starting-pitching woes this season have been well-documented, and the poster boy for those problems is who the Sox are leaning on tonight to break their losing streak.
Clay Buchholz, who hasn't won since Opening Day -- in fact, Boston is 1-4 in the five games he's started -- is on the mound as the Sox welcome Tampa Bay to town. Buchholz actually pitched well against the Rays in St. Petersburg on April 23, allowing only two hits and one run over six innings with 10 strikeouts, but the Sox wound up losing the game, 2-1.
He'll be throwing to a veteran catcher, as Sandy Leon replaces Blake Swihart behind the plate. And with right-hander Jake Odorizzi on the mound for Tampa Bay, Brock Holt is back in right field.
Tonight's lineup:
RED SOX:
Mookie Betts, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, LF
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Mike Napoli, 1B
Brock Holt, RF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Sandy Leon, C
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Clay Buchholz, P
RAYS:
Kevin Kiermaier, CF
Steven Souza Jr., RF
James Loney. 1B
Evan Longoria, 3B
David DeJesus, LF
Logan Forsythe, 2B
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Joey Butler, DH
Rene Rivera, C
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Jake Odorizzi, P