Boston Red Sox lineup for the Philadelphia Phillies: Garrett Richards’ last round?

The Red Sox are heading home on something called a “losing streak” – I had to look and trust myself when I say it stinks – to face the Phillies behind seemingly in danger of rotation (7:10 p.m., NESN ).

If there’s one thing the beat reporters seem safe this week, it’s that Tanner Houck will be part of the pitching staff, maybe even in the rotation, after the all-star break. If the Sox are intending to stick with a five-man operation, that would almost certainly mean Richards, who struggled even after his time deep after Spider Tack. It could be his last start for a while, and it seems certain if he stinks of joint. Unfortunately, that and “eh? Seem to be both options when he’s on the mound, so hopefully I guess?

Notoriously slow worker Vince Velasquez is starting for the Phillies, so this one could take a while, especially if Richards crosses him out, which we don’t want but obviously prepared for. At least it’s home – I thought we wouldn’t see Fenway before the break, but I don’t have a magnetic timeline so just kidding. Here are the queues. I have no concise comments about them.