Red Sox lineup: Finally, Wilyer Abreu back in lineup as team goes for sweep

TAMPA — Outfielder Wilyer Abreu, who last played for the Red Sox on Aug. 17, is back in the Red Sox lineup as the team attempts to sweep its next-to-last road series of the season.

Abreu, who rejoined the team Saturday but wasn’t activated for the game, will serve as the DH and hit eighth in the batting order with the Red Sox using Masataka Yoshida in right field. To make room for Abreu’s return to the active roster, the Sox designated third catcher Ali Sanchez for assignment.

The Sox apparently want to ease Abreu back into playing outfield. He could do that Tuesday in Toronto when the Sox begin their last road series.

Elsewhere, the lineup is largely the same as it’s been in the first two games here, with two exceptions: Ceddanne Rafaela has been moved up to seventh in the lineup and Connor Wong is behind the plate after Carlos Narvaez handled the catching the last two nights.

On the mound, the Red Sox will turn to rookie lefty Connelly Early, who’s made two strong starts in the last couple of weeks. Early has fanned 18 hitters and walked just one in his first two major league starts.

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BOSTON RED SOX (85-70) @ TAMPA BAY RAYS (75-80) · GEORGE M. STEINBRENNER FIELD · TAMPA, FLA · GAME 156

FIRST PITCH: 7:35 p.m. ET

TV CHANNEL: NESN

RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM

PITCHING PROBABLES: LHP Connelly Early (1-0, 0.87) vs. RHP Joe Boyle (1-3, 4.64)

RED SOX LINEUP:

1) LF Jarren Duran

2) SS Trevor Story

3) 3B Alex Bregman

4) RF Masataka Yoshida

5) 2B Romy Gonzalez

6) 1B Nathaniel Lowe

7) CF Ceddanne Rafaela

8) DH Wilyer Abreu

9) C. Connor Wong

RAYS LINEUP:

1) CF Chandler Simpson

2) DH Yandy Diaz

3) 3B Junior Caminero

4) 2B Brandon Lowe

5) LF Christoper Morel

6) C. Nick Fortes

7) 1B Tristan Gray

8) RF Everson Pereira

9) SS Carson Williams

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