Red Sox lineup has Willson Contreras returning, but Wilyer Abreu scratched Saturday

[ASFN Admin]

UPDATE: Wilyer Abreu was scratched from the original lineup after experiencing swelling in his lower leg, where he fouled a ball off himself in Friday's win. Jarren Duran entered the lineup in his place with Eli White shifting from left field to right field.

Here's the new Red Sox lineup:

1. 
   Jahmai Jones DH
   
   
2. 
   Ceddanne Rafaela CF
   
   
3. 
   Caleb Durbin 3B
   
   
4. 
   Willson Contreras 1B
   
   
5. 
   Andruw Monasterio SS
   
   
6. 
   Eli White RF
   
   
7. 
   Nick Sogard 2B
   
   
8. 
   Jarren Duran LF
   
   
9. 
   Connor Wong C
   

***

BOSTON — The Red Sox will welcome their All-Star first baseman back to the lineup Saturday while sitting another regular starter who has shown signs of life with his bat in recent days.

Returning from illness, Willson Contreras is at first base for the Sox as they look for their 10th straight win at 4:05 p.m. ET against the Athletics. Jarren Duran, who hit a two-run homer Friday, isn't playing with the left-handed Gage Jump starting for the A's. Jahmai Jones is the designated hitter and the leadoff man and newcomer Eli White will make his first start in left field.

Contreras was removed from Wednesday's game due to illness and missed the last two games. Between that sickness and concussion testing after being hit in the head with a 95 mph pitch Friday in Los Angeles, Contreras has just 11 plate appearances in Boston's last seven games.

Switch-hitter Nick Sogard is the second baseman over Anthony Seigler. After a night off in the series opener, Connor Wong is back behind the plate catching rookie Jake Bennett. Masataka Yoshida will begin the game on the bench.

The Red Sox, after a 13-1 blowout win behind a dominant Payton Tolle (14 strikeouts) Friday, won their ninth game in a row and are now 27-3 in their last 30 games dating back to July 3. They will look to clinch their 10th straight series victory with one more win over the A's. Bennett, who has a 2.90 ERA in his first 12 big league starts, has a 2.58 ERA and 25 strikeouts in six starts since the run began.

The 23-year-old Jump pitched very well against the Red Sox on July 28 in Sacramento, lasting six shutout innings with seven strikeouts. That game was Boston's last loss.

First pitch is at 4:05 p.m. and the game will air on NESN.

ATHLETICS (45-71) vs. BOSTON RED SOX (64-51) · FENWAY PARK · BOSTON, MA · GAME 116

FIRST PITCH: 4:05 p.m. ET

TV CHANNEL: NESN

RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM

PITCHING PROBABLES: LHP Gage Jump (4-7, 4.59 ERA) vs. LHP Jake Bennett (7-4, 2.90 ERA)

RED SOX LINEUP:

1. 
   Jahmai Jones DH
   
   
2. 
   Ceddanne Rafaela CF
   
   
3. 
   Wilyer Abreu RF
   
   
4. 
   Willson Contreras 1B
   
   
5. 
   Caleb Durbin 3B
   
   
6. 
   Andruw Monasterio SS
   
   
7. 
   Eli White LF
   
   
8. 
   Nick Sogard 2B
   
   
9. 
   Connor Wong C
   

ATHLETICS LINEUP:

1. 
   Henry Bolte CF
   
   
2. 
   Jacob Wilson SS
   
   
3. 
   Jonah Heim DH
   
   
4. 
   Tyler Soderstrom LF
   
   
5. 
   Tommy White 1B
   
   
6. 
   Brian Serven C
   
   
7. 
   Lawrence Butler RF
   
   
8. 
   Max Muncy 3B
   
   
9. 
   Alika Williams 2B
   

More Red Sox coverage​

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• 
  Red Sox' Jarren Duran starting to turn the power on again
  
  
• 
  Payton Tolle's 'electric' 14-K start reminded new Red Sox catcher of Tarik Skubal: 'That's how it felt tonight'
  
  
• 
  Red Sox' Adley Rutschman to begin rehab assignment Saturday
  
  
• 
  Red Sox reactions: Win streak hits nine straight in rout over Athletics
  

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