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The Royals have won back-to-back games for the first time since April 22-23. If they win this afternoon, that just might be a winning streak. The Red Sox and Royals will play a day-night doubleheader to make up for Monday's rainout, with the team's juggling the rotation a bit for the doubleheader. Ian Kennedy will face Red Sox knuckleballer Steven Wright in the afternoon game, with Edinson Volquez facing David Price in the night cap.
Wright was a former sidearmer with the Indians before he reinvented himself by becoming a knuckleballer with the Red Sox. He finally stuck on a Major League roster for a bit last year, at age 30, pitching in 16 games, nine starts, with a 4.09 ERA. This year he has excelled in seven starts with a 2.36 ERA and over eight strikeouts per nine innings. Wright throws his knuckler about 85% of the time, occasionally mixing in an 83 mph fastball. You would think that would be a recipe for danger, but Wright has only given up two home runs all season.
Hanley Ramirez is out of the lineup for Game One.
#RedSox 5/18 Lineup at KC (Gm 1):
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) May 18, 2016
Betts RF
Pedroia 2B
Bogaerts SS
Ortiz DH
Shaw 1B
Rutledge 3B
Bradley Jr. CF
Young LF
Hanigan C
Wright RHP
Salvy gets the day off after the night game, but will likely catch the second game of the doubleheader tonight.
Ian Kennedy takes the hill for #Royals in Game 1 of doubleheader with Red Sox. https://t.co/r2JtwdeKlS #ForeverRoyal pic.twitter.com/Qbg2yyCosi
— #VoteRoyals (@Royals) May 18, 2016