UPDATE 4:00 p.m. ET: It’s official. Rookie phenom Xander Bogaerts will be in Boston’s starting lineup for Game 5 Thursday, reports Buster Olney of ESPN. He’ll hit in the eight spot and man third base.
ALCS 2013: Xander Bogaerts to start Game 5
The hottest Red Sox prospect might get a chance to change Boston’s fortunes in their biggest game of the season.
ORIGINAL 11:14 a.m. ET: Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts might very well find himself in the Game 5 lineup on Thursday night against the Detroit Tigers.
Bogaerts has been on the playoff roster mostly as a backup to shortstop Stephen Drew, but with Drew hitting only .107 with three hits in 28 at-bats, there could be a change.. Nothing has been confirmed, but it appears Bogaerts has a very good chance of seeing some playing time, according to Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal.
“I haven’t made a decision on tomorrow’s lineup,” [manager John] Farrell said a few minutes after the game. “But the left side of the infield, we’re struggling a little bit to get production out of that side. It’s something that’s being considered, for sure.”
The Red Sox have had a very hard time getting offense against Detroit, being no-hit deep into Games 1 and 3 while taking 8-plus innings to score more than a run in Game 2. Still, Boston has pitched well enough to have the series at 2-2 going into Thursday.
Outfielder Jonny Gomes is also likely to be in the lineup, according to CSN New England. Gomes gives the Red Sox some right-handed pop in place of Daniel Nava.
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