Red Sox Journal: Familiar group chases familiar goal

SEATTLE — Never in their previous 119 editions of Opening Day had the Red Sox rolled out a lineup like this.

Boston returned nine of its 10 starters from a season ago at Tampa Bay. Mitch Moreland at first base instead of the departed Hanley Ramirez was the lone change, as a team intent on repeating as World Series champions will attempt to do so with largely the same cast of key performers.

"We have a great group of guys," Red Sox [...]

SEATTLE — Never in their previous 119 editions of Opening Day had the Red Sox rolled out a lineup like this.

Boston returned nine of its 10 starters from a season ago at Tampa Bay. Mitch Moreland at first base instead of the departed Hanley Ramirez was the lone change, as a team intent on repeating as World Series champions will attempt to do so with largely the same cast of key performers.

“We have a great group of guys,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Just to be around them, it brings energy. It’s great. We’re ready to roll.”

The Red Sox last had eight players appear in two straight debut lineups between 1981-82. Their outfield of Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts was together for the third straight time, the first time that’s happened since Jim Rice, Tony Armas and Dwight Evans lined up left to right from 1983-86.

Chris Sale stretched beyond team history, as he took the ball in the opener for the fifth time on Opening Day in his career and for the second time in three years with Boston. Sale became the first American League pitcher to record the final out of the World Series and throw his club’s first pitch of the following season since Baltimore’s Scott McGregor in 1983-84. Carl Mays was the last Red Sox pitcher to do so exactly 100 years ago in 1918-19.

“Our goal is not only to win Opening Day,” Cora said. “Our goal is bigger than that. For us to accomplish that, we have to stick with the program. He’s a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Rafael Devers also continues to put himself alongside some of the franchise’s more storied names. He played third base and batted third as a 22-year-old, just the third Boston player to hit third on Opening Day at that age or younger. Gene Stephens (1953) and Ted Williams (1940) finally have some long-awaited company as Devers rode his improved conditioning to a strong spring training.

“I think we’re going to see a different guy toward the end of the season,” Cora said in Fort Myers late last week. “He’s going to be rested. We do feel his talent is obvious. It’s just a matter of teaching him, coaching him and putting him in a place to be successful.”

Injured list grows

Boston finalized its 25-man roster by formally placing Dustin Pedroia (left knee), Steve Pearce (left calf) and Marco Hernandez (left shoulder) on the injured list.

Pedroia served as the designated hitter and went 1-for-4 in a minor league game at extended spring on Thursday. His ability to play nine full innings each time he’s in the lineup and appear in back-to-back games are the obstacles Pedroia must overcome before returning to second base with the Red Sox.

“For him, tomorrow is important,” Cora said. “I’ve been saying that all along. See how he reacts to the daily grind and then go from there.”

Eduardo Nunez opened at second base for Boston on Thursday, matching up right-left with Mariners starter Marco Gonzales. Cora said Brock Holt is likely to crack the lineup at that position on Saturday to go left-right with Seattle starter Mike Leake. The right-handed hitting Pearce almost certainly would have been featured at first base against Gonzales if healthy, but he’s due to hit live pitching at extended spring on Friday.

Leon to McCoy

Sandy Leon formally accepted his assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday.

The catcher was outrighted off the big league roster by the Red Sox and went unclaimed on waivers. Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart — who is expected to make his season debut on Saturday — were retained by Boston.

“The fact that he’s in the organization is great,” Cora said. “He’s going to work hard. We’ll make some adjustments offensive-wise and see if we can get him back to what he was two or three years ago.”

Leon slashed just .106/.170/.169 over his final 49 regular season games in 2018. That marks a precipitous decline from the career-high .845 OPS he posted over 78 games in 2016. Leon’s receiving abilities behind the plate remain of significant value, and the Red Sox have a handful of pitchers on the 40-man roster — Bobby Poyner, Marcus Walden, Travis Lakins, Josh Taylor and Chandler Shepherd — who are likely to start the season with the PawSox.

“There are a lot of guys on that roster that have a shot to come up here and help us out pitching-wise,” Cora said. “Having Sandy down there and Juan is going to help us at the Triple-A level.”