Red Sox vs. Diamondbacks lineups: Mookie gets day off, Velazquez starts

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The Boston Red Sox are looking to close off the final contest of their 11-game west coast road trip with a victory. The Red Sox have gotten off to a rough start this year, notching just a 2-8 record, and they will look to avoid getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Ahead of their home opener, the Red Sox are going to give their starting pitchers a day off and make it more of a bullpen day. As a result, Hector Velazquez will make the spot start. So far this year, Velazquez has logged 5 2/3 innings of work with a 4.76 ERA coming out of the pen. He will look to become the first Red Sox starter to notch a win this year.

By starting Velazquez today, the Red Sox ensure that Chris Sale will be on the hill for Tuesday's home opener against the Blue Jays.

The other notable lineup decision today is that Mookie Betts will get a day off. J.D. Martinez will start in right field due to the absence of the DH in the National League park.

Mitch Moreland is into the lineup against a righthanded pitcher in place of Steve Pearce, and Blake Swihart will catch today after Christian Vazquez started yesterday. Here's the rest of the lineup for today's game.

BOSTON RED SOX (2-8)
Andrew Benintendi, LF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Mitch Moreland, 1B
J.D. Martinez, RF
Rafael Devers, 3B
Blake Swihart, C
Eduardo Nunez, 2B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Hector Velazquez, RHP

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (5-4)
Jarrod Dyson, CF
Eduardo Escobar, 3B
David Peralta, LF
Adam Jones, RF
Christian Walker, 1B
Ketel Marte, 2B
Nick Ahmed, SS
John Ryan Murphy, C
Merrill Kelly, RHP

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