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A late change in the Red Sox formation puts receiver Christian Vázquez to second base on Monday.
The Red Sox are scheduled to play their annual Patriots' Day game at 11:05 am on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles in wet conditions at Fenway Park.
Monday morning, the Red Sox announced their alignment for the game, to change it an hour later.
UPDATE:
Pedroia DH
Betts CF
Moreland 1B
Martinez RF
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Pearce LF
Swihart C
Vázquez 2B
Velázquez RHP– Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) April 15, 2019
Changes? Dustin Pedroia was selected as the designated hitter for Monday's game instead of starting at second base. Vázquez will start at second base for the first time in his major league career, according to Baseball Reference. Vázquez appeared at third base four times for the Red Sox, twice in 2017 and twice more last season. He also played six innings in first base in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series.
Alex Cora, the coach of the Red Sox, said before Monday's game that Vázquez faced ground over the infield positions in recent practice.
"[Vázquez] played the first base of the World Series, so it's the biggest stage of the sport, "Cora told reporters via NESN. "His first game was a step back, an online match, a reversal to the first. He wants to do it, he likes to do it and we go with him. "
Cora also said the shift was aimed at lightening the workload of Dustin Pedroia earlier this season.
Today's second baseman, Christian Vazquez, everyone! ??? pic.twitter.com/JN9hFI0ZKR
– Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) April 15, 2019
"We have to take care of [Pedroia], Says Cora. "We have a program. We must be disciplined. We pushed him to play second, but then it makes no sense, you know? Something happens to him today, then it's up to us, then. The only thing we can do, honestly, is DH and dismiss it as much as possible. Do not push him so hard, you know? It's a difficult start. These are difficult conditions. "
J.D. Martinez will play on the right court on Monday and Steve Pearce will start on the left field after Andrew Benintendi's injury. Mookie Betts will make a rare start in the central pack to replace Jackie Bradley Jr., apparently ill.
Hector Velázquez (0-0, 2.79) will start at the pitcher for the Red Sox.
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