Red Sox rookie second baseman back in lineup for series opener vs. Royals

After the Boston Red Sox took two out of three games from the Texas Rangers, Alex Cora's squad will take on the Kansas City Royals in a three-game set starting on Monday at Kauffman Stadium.

For the matchup, Boston will send James Paxton to the mound while Kansas City will counter with Brady Singer.

Here's what Cora's lineup looks like for the opener:

1. Jarren Duran LF
2. Wilyer Abreu RF
3. Masataka Yoshida DH
4. Rafael Devers 3B
5. Connor Wong C
6. Dom Smith 1B
7. Nick Sogard 2B
8. David Hamilton SS
9. Ceddanne Rafaela CF

And, here's Matt Quatraro's:

1. Maikel Garcia 3B
2. Bobby Witt Jr. SS
3. Vinnie Pasquantino 1B
4. Salvador Perez C
5. Hunter Renfroe RF
6. Michael Massey 2B
7. Freddy Fermin DH
8. Garrett Hampson LF
9. Kyle Isbel CF

Paxton has been all right this season, posting a 4.52 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP while striking out 69 batters in his 19 starts. He's made just one start since returning to Boston at the trade deadline, giving up six runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk over 4 1/3 innings. He's allowed hits to six Royals in his career - Dairon Blanco (1-for-2), Maikel Garcia (3-for-5 with an RBI), Michael Massey (2-for-4), MJ Melendez (1-for-2), Salvador Perez (5-for-16 with a solo home run) and Bobby Witt Jr. (2-for-4 with a solo home run).

Singer has been great for Kansas City in his 22 starts, recording a 2.88 ERA (eighth in baseball) and a 1.16 WHIP while striking out 115 batters. He's made one start against Boston this year, allowing four runs on eight hits and a walk in the 5-4 loss. He's allowed hits to six Red Sox in his career - Wilyer Abreu (1-for-2), Rafael Devers (3-for-8 with a home run and two RBIs), Jarren Duran (2-for-5), Tyler O'Neill (1-for-2), Dominic Smith (1-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs) and Connor Wong (2-for-5 with an RBI).