Jessica Mendoza breaks down how the Red Sox beat the Rays in the ALDS. (0:39).
How the Red Sox can defeat the Rays in an ALDS (0:39).
ST. PETERSBURG. Fla. -- Boston slugger J.D. Martinez will be playing in Tuesday's AL Division Series match against the Tampa Bay Rays. Martinez missed Tuesday's win over New York Yankees due to a left ankle injury.
The best-of-5 ALDS competition was set to begin Thursday night in St. Petersburg (Florida).
In Sunday's Washington regular-season finale, Martinez fell over second base as he headed to the outfield.
Martinez was playing right field in the National League's game against the Nationals because the National League doesn't use a DH. Martinez stepped on the bag, twisting his ankle as he headed out to defend in the fifth inning.
Martinez was in right field for the seventh time in 2021. Martinez was the DH in 113 games, and the left fielder in 28.
Martinez was a league-leading.286, with 42 doubles, 28 homers, and 99 RBI in the regular season.
Tampa Bay's 13-man roster does not include Brett Phillips, a speedy outfielder. Lefty Ryan Yarbrough went 9-7, with a 5.11 ERA, in 30 games. This included 21 starts.
Boston also added Martn Prez, left-hander Martn Sale and Danny Santana, who are expected to be Game 2 starters, to the ALDS roster.
After being inactive for the wild-card round, Red Sox right-hander Matt Barnes was not included on the roster. Other players who were dropped included catcher Connor Wong and Jonathan Araz, outfielder Jarren Duran and infielder Jarren Araz.
Boston released Jos Iglesias, an infielder, to Triple-A Worcester. Yairo Muoz, an infielder and outfielder from COVID-19 was also reinstated. He was then outrighted to Worcester.
Nick Anderson, Tampa Bay’s closer, was not selected for the roster. Due to a right elbow injury, he didn't make his 2021 debut before Sept. 13, and struggled through six late-season appearances.
Boston had several left-handed starting pitchers, so Tampa Bay brought in Jordan Luplow, a right-handed hitting outfielder.
In 2020, the AL East champion Rays lost six games to Los Angeles Dodgers for the World Series.
