BOSTON — Rafael Devers is not in the Boston Red Sox lineup Sunday. It’s a routine day off.
“We talk after the game yesterday,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “And it just makes sense today to give him a day. We’ve got a day game tomorrow. Obviously this is a tough stretch. Probably his last off day of the season with all the (team) off days coming up. So it makes sense to keep him off his feet. He’s available. But we talk a little bit yesterday and yeah, we decided to do that.”
The Red Sox host the Cleveland Indians at 1:10 p.m. Boston will try to sweep the three-game series.
Boston placed starter Nick Pivetta on the COVID-related IL. Kutter Crawford will start in place of Pivetta. It will be Crawford’s MLB debut.
“Obviously his first big league start. It should be fun,” manager Alex Cora said. “I think we’ll manage it as a group just like a regular start similar to Tanner (Houck). Go five and see where we’re at.”
Crawford, a 25-year-old righty, is 5-3 with a 4.16 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and .231 batting average against in 16 games (15 starts) for Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester this season.
The Red Sox are taking a precautionary approach with Pivetta, who is vaccinated.
“It’s one of those where we have to be very cautious,” Cora said. “As you guys know with testing and all that, sometimes the results doesn’t match up. So out of precaution, we did it. We’ll know more today or tomorrow morning.”
Boston Red Sox lineup:
1. Kyle Schwarber LF
2. Hunter Renfroe RF
3. J.D. Martinez DH
4. Alex Verdugo CF
5. Kevin Plawecki C
6. Travis Shaw 1B
7. Bobby Dalbec 3B
8. Jack López 2B
9. Jonathan Araúz SS
Pitching matchup: Zach Plesac (9-4, 4.49 ERA) vs. Kutter Crawford (MLB debut)
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