HOUSTON — Kyle Schwarber will lead off for the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday.
First pitch between the Red Sox and Astros is at 4:20 p.m., eastern, here at Minute Maid Park. The Astros lead the best-of-seven series, 1-0.
Kevin Plawecki will catch starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. The two teamed up well together during the regular season. Eovaldi posted a 3.28 ERA the 17 times when Plawecki caught him compared to a 4.77 ERA the 13 times when Christian Vázquez caught him.
The Red Sox will face a right-handed starter, Luis Garcia. So manager Alex Cora reordered his lineup slightly from Game 1 when Boston faced a left-hander starter, Framber Valdez.
Schwarber batted second in Game 1. Cora flipped Schwarber and Kiké Hernández who led off Friday. Hernández will bat second Saturday.
Cora also moved Alex Verdugo up from seventh to fifth in the batting order. J.D. Martinez, who batted fifth on Friday, will bat sixth.
Garcia earned a victory against Boston on June 1. He allowed just one run in 7 innings.
Boston Red Sox lineup
1. Kyle Schwarber 1B
2. Kiké Hernández CF
3. Rafael Devers 3B
4. Xander Bogaerts SS
5. Alex Verdugo LF
6. J.D. Martinez DH
7. Hunter Renfroe RF
8. Kevin Plawecki C
9. Christian Arroyo 2B
Starting pitchers: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 2.61 ERA) vs. RHP Luis Garcia (0-0, 16.88 ERA)
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