JD Martinez returns to lineup for Sox in ALDS Game 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Red Sox slugger JD Martinez returns to the Boston lineup Friday night in time for Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox find themselves down in the series 1-0 thanks to a 5-0 blanking by Tampa Bay a day ago at Tropicana Field.

Martinez has missed the last two games for Boston after being removed from last Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Washington Nationals after injuring his ankle jogging out to right field before the home half of the inning. The heavy-hitting righty will slot back into the designated hitter position for the Red Sox and will bat sixth in the lineup.

His return to the lineup means that Bobby Dalbec will be available off the bench for Boston as Kyle Schwarber shifts to 1B from the DH role. Dalbec is 0-for-8 this postseason while Schwarber has gone 3-for-7 thus far in the playoffs with a home run in the AL Wild Card Game against New York.

The rest of the Red Sox lineup is as follows:

1. Kyle Schwarber, 1B
2. Kiké Hernandez, CF
3. Rafael Devers, 3B
4. Xander Bogaerts, SS
5. Alex Verdugo, LF
6. JD Martinez, DH
7. Hunter Renfroe, RF
8. Christian Vazquez, C
9. Christian Arroyo, 2B

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Chris Sale will take the ball as the starting pitcher for Boston. He’ll be opposed by Rays’ rookie Shane Baz, who toes the rubber for Tampa Bay in Game 2.

Additionally, Red Sox RHP Garrett Richards has been removed from the ALDS roster due to a left hamstring strain, the team announced. In his stead, right-handed reliever Matt Barnes will return to the roster for Boston.

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