Arroyo will start at shortstop on Friday as Xander Bogaerts gets the night off.

Tanner Houck could have been re-inserted into the starting rotation, but his value as a closer addresses an equally important issue.

Jarren Duran joins Tanner Houck as unvaccinated players on Boston’s 26-man roster who will miss a three-game series in Toronto, which starts Monday.

Jarren Duran and Alex Verdugo each add two-run doubles as Boston wins for the eighth time in 10 games.

Houck has established himself as the Red Sox closer, but is ineligible to travel to Canada because he is unvaccinated against COVID-19.

Downs, acquired in the Mookie Betts trade, is batting just .180 for Triple-A Worcester this season.

Boston gets home runs from Trevor Story and Christian Vázquez, and Nick Pivetta strikes out 10 in a 6-4 victory.

St. Louis scores four runs with two outs in the ninth inning, but Tanner Houck get the strikeout he needs and and Boston escapes with a 6-5 win.

Chris Sale has been sidelined since spring training after suffering a fracture in his rib cage.

Oakland beats Boston for the first time in six tries this season, 4-3.