Red Sox' Lineup...
1. Mookie Betts ® RF
2. Dustin Pedroia ® 2B
3. Xander Bogaerts ® SS
4. Travis Shaw (L) 1B
5. Hanley Ramirez ® DH
6. Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF
7. Marco Hernandez (L) 3B
8. Christian Vazquez ® C
9. Blake Swihart (S) LF
On the bump... Joe Kelly RHP
Kelly had an impressive return form the disabled list in his last start, holding the Indians hitless for 6 2/3 innings before Juan Uribe spoiled his no-hit bid with a double. That was the final pitch Kelly threw in a win.
Toronto's Lineup...
1. Ezequiel Carrera (L) RF
2. Josh Donaldson ® 3B
3. Edwin Encarnacion ® DH
4. Michael Saunders (L) LF
5. Troy Tulowitzki ® SS
6. Justin Smoak (S) 1B
7. Russell Martin ® C
8. Devon Travis ® 2B
9. Kevin Pillar ® CF
On the bump... Aaron Sanchez RHP
Sanchez has won his last three decisions, including Friday, when he allowed two runs on eight hits in seven innings, striking out seven and walking none. Sanchez will be making his seventh appearance at Fenway Park, but first start there.
With Jackie Bradley Jr.'s 29-game hit streak in the rear view, the Red Sox and Blue Jays will renew their American League East rivalry on Friday night at Rogers Centre. Bradley entered play on Thursday riding the 29-game streak before going 0-for-4 vs. the Rockies.
Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez will be tasked with holding down the first-place Red Sox in the opener. Sanchez was originally scheduled to pitch Thursday against the Yankees but his outing was pushed back to gain an extra day of rest. Sanchez has allowed three runs or fewer in all but two of his starts this year, including one run over seven innings vs. Boston on April 17.
The Red Sox will counter with right-hander Joe Kelly, who is coming off his best outing of the season. Kelly returned from the disabled list on Saturday and proceeded to surrender just one hit and three walks over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Kelly faced Toronto in his first start of the year on April 8 and allowed seven runs in three innings.
Three things to know about this game
• Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is expected to make his return for Friday night's game. Tulowitzki missed the previous two games because of tightness in his right quad that he sustained while stealing second during Toronto's 6-0 loss to the Yankees on Tuesday.
• Boston's leadoff man Mookie Betts will return to the lineup on Friday after his first day off of the season. Betts has had at least one hit and one walk in his last six games, and 12 of his last 23 hits have been for extra bases.
• Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who is retiring at the end of the season, has clubbed 39 career homers at Rogers Centre, by far his highest total at any visiting park. Next closest is Tropicana Field, where Ortiz has gone deep 33 times.
LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*
LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*
LETS GO BLUE JAYS *CLAP, CLAP* *CLAP, CLAP, CLAP*
Look In Your Rearview Bosox... We're Coming!!!