J.D. Martinez will not play against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. He has cold symptoms. The Red Sox do not think he has COVID but the DH cannot play due to coronavirus protocols.
Martinez has taken a rapid COVID test. The Red Sox are waiting for the results. He must test negative twice (PCR test, too) before he’s allowed to play.
“From our end, we do believe he is going to be back with us tomorrow,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Saturday.
Christian Vázquez will DH and bat cleanup. Kevin Plawecki will catch.
Boston potentially will place Martinez on the COVID-related IL today, then be able to activate him Sunday if the test results return negative. In that scenario, the Red Sox would be able to activate a player from the taxi-squad Saturday.
Boston is looking for its fourth straight win after starting the regular season 0-3. The Sox lost all three games against the Orioles at Fenway last weekend. But they then swept a three-game home series against the Rays and won Thursday in Baltimore.
Righty Garrett Richards will start for Boston after he struggled against the Orioles at Fenway Park last Sunday. Richards went just 2-plus innings and allowed six earned runs.
Richards has had Boston’s only poor start through the first seven games. The other starting pitchers have a combined 2.78 ERA.
Hernández continues to bat leadoff despite struggling in that spot. He is just 5 for 28 (.179) with a homer, double, three runs, three RBIs, two walks and seven strikeouts in seven games. He is 1-for-6 with a strikeout and no walks to lead off games.
Christian Arroyo will play second base.
Lefty Bruce Zimmermann will start for Baltimore. He beat the Red Sox last weekend at Fenway when he pitched opposite Richards. He allowed three runs, all earned, four hits and one walk while striking out five. Martinez took him deep.
Boston Red Sox lineup:
1. Kiké Hernández CF
2. Alex Verdugo RF
3. Xander Bogaerts SS
4. Christian Vázquez DH
5. Rafael Devers 3B
6. Marwin Gonzalez LF
7. Christian Arroyo 2B
8. Bobby Dalbec 1B
9. Kevin Plawecki C
Baltimore Orioles lineup:
1. Cedric Mullins CF
2. Trey Mancini 1B
3. Anthony Santander RF
4. Ryan Mountcastle DH
5. DJ Stewart LF
6. Maikel Franco 3B
7. Rio Ruiz 2B
8. Freddy Galvis SS
9. Chance Sisco C
Starting pitchers: Red Sox RHP Garrett Richards (0-1, 27.00) vs. Orioles LHP Bruce Zimmermann (1-0, 4.50)
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