Red Sox, Astros announce ALDS Game 1 lineups
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HOUSTON -- The Astros and Red Sox have revealed their starting lineups for Game 1 of the American League Division Series presented by Doosan.
Game 1 of the best-of-five ALDS, which features a star-studded pitching matchup between Astros starter Justin Verlander and Red Sox ace Chris Sale, is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET on MLB Network.
The two clubs just capped their regular season with a four-game series in Boston, with the Astros winning three of them. The Red Sox took two of three in Houston back in June.
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Hanley sits
The Red Sox have appointed DH duties to Eduardo Núñez over Hanley Ramirez for the series opener, hoping to take advantage of Nunez's prior success against Verlander. Nunez, who has thrived in this Red Sox lineup since arriving in a July trade from San Francisco, is the only member of Boston's offense who has homered off Verlander. He's 6-for-18 overall against the power pitcher, while Ramirez has managed just three hits off him in 13 tries. Moreover, Dustin Pedroia, who is 3-for-27 against Verlander, has been bumped to the sixth spot.
Reddick returns
Astros right fielder Josh Reddick, who has been nursing a sore back, is set to return to the field for the first time since Sept. 24. Reddick, who hit .314 during the regular season, including .315 against southpaws, is one of two left-handed Astros hitters tasked with tackling Sale. The other, Brian McCann, finished with a .227 average opposite lefties.
Red Sox lineup
- Xander Bogaerts, SS
- Eduardo Nunez, DH
- Andrew Benintendi, LF
- Mookie Betts, CF
- Mitch Moreland, 1B
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Rafael Devers, 3B
- Sandy León, C
- Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Chris Sale, P
Astros lineup - George Springer, CF
- Alex Bregman, 3B
- Jose Altuve, 2B
- Carlos Correa, SS
- Evan Gattis, DH
- Josh Reddick, RF
- Yuli Gurriel, 1B
- Marwin Gonzalez, LF
- Brian McCann, C
Justin Verlander, P