4 years agoBoston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter J.D. Martinez is not among the club’s starting nine for Friday’s contest versus the Rays and left-hander Blake Snell, whom he has gone just 1-for-7 against in his career. Martinez has been in a season-long malaise that has intensified over his past 15 games with just one homer and a .175/.273/.298 slash line in that stretch. Kevin Plawecki will start at the DH spot and bat fifth in Martinez’s absence, with Snell now facing a Boston lineup that is missing numerous key contributors, giving him upside DFS appeal. Martinez’s next chance to return to the lineup comes Saturday, but he’ll again have a tough matchup, this time versus Tampa Bay righty Tyler Glasnow.--Jesse Borek
Source: Marc Topkin