Postponed: Red Sox vs. Indians

The Red Sox announced the postponement of Wednesday night's game about 9:18 p.m. A makeup date has been scheduled for Aug. 14, at 6:10 p.m.

GAME NO.: 109

WHO: Red Sox (59-49) vs Cleveland Indians (57-48)

WHEN: 7:10 p.m.

WHERE: Fenway Park

TV: NESN

RADIO: WEEI (93.7 FM)

PITCHERS: Rick Porcello (4-14, 4.45) vs. Trevor Bauer (9-8, 5.25)

BOX SCORE:  MLB Gameday

SERIES TO DATE: Red Sox have won the first two meetings of the season, with Tuesday’s 12-10 comeback win the most dramatic victory of the season. The Indians, who came to town with nine wins in their last 10 games, will try to salvage a game tonight to avoid a series sweep. The two teams meet in a four-game series in Cleveland later this month.

WHERE THINGS STAND: After falling out of first place on their recent West Coast trip, the Red Sox climbed over the Yankees to re-take a half-game lead in the American League East standings. The Indians continue to hold a slim two-game lead over Kansas City in the A.L. Central.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Boston’s offense has come around on this homestand, with six or more runs scored in three of the last four games. The Sox can credit the arrival of Eduardo Nunez and Rafael Devers for a good part of the uptick. Terry Francona’s bullpen is spent, with neither of his starters getting into the fifth inning in the series’ first two games.

STAT OF NOTE: Six of the Red Sox’ last 13 home wins have come in walk-off style.

LINEUPS:

RED SOX:

Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Nunez 2B
Ramirez DH
Devers 3B
Bogaerts SS
Moreland 1B
Vazquez C
Bradley Jr. CF

INDIANS:

Zimmer CF
Lindor SS
Brantley LF
Ramirez 2B
Encarnacion DH
Santana 1B
Guyer RF
Perez C
Urshela 3B

PRE-GAME NOTES:

* 3B Rafael Devers continues to inch up the Red Sox' batting order. After beginning his major league career hitting either eighth or ninth in the Red Sox lineup in his first five games, Devers moved up to sixth on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, he climbed further still, batting fifth for the Sox. And why not? Devers came into Wednesday hitting .489 (12-for-28), having reached safely in every one of his first seven games and has flashed some extra-base power, with two homers and two doubles. "Raffy's shown a lot of patience and a lot of emotional control,'' said John Farrell. "He's shown the ability to hit many different types of pitching. He's (handled) a lot of different areas. And he's playing with some maturity that we might not have anticipated coming here. A hitter's going to tell you where they hit in the lineup. And I know it's only been a handful of at-bats. Still, this guy's come in with a little bit of pedigree and taken advantage (of his opportunity).''

*C Christian Vazquez was the starting catcher for the fifth straight game as Sandy Leon deals with a bit of a wrenched left knee, suffered in a slide into home last Saturday night. Farrell stressed that Leon was available to play in an emergency in recent nights, but it now closer to being 100 percent. "He caught a bullpen (Wednesday),'' said Farrell. "He went through some blocking drills, some throwing. So he's getting closer and will be back in a starting capacity soon. So there won't be the need for a DL (move) or anything like that. Meanwhile, Vazquez, who belted a three-run walkoff homer in the ninth inning Tuesday, is in his hottest stretch of the season at the plate, going 10-for-17 with five extra-base hits and six RBI on the homestand.

*RHP Carson Smith faced live hitters Wednesday afternoon, throwing 21 pitchers. Assuming no setbacks Thursday, Smith will begin a rehab assignment Saturday in Portland, before joining Pawtucket early next week. The Sox have 30 days for his rehab assignment and the expectation is that he'll need all or most of that, having been sidelined the last 15 months following Tommy John surgery. RHP Joe Kelly (hamstring) is set to begin his rehab assignment Wednesday night for Pawtucket and could be activated by Friday.