BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Red Sox will try to keep their six-game home win streak intact when they play the Kansas City Royals. Boston has a 38-21 record in home games and a 63-51 record overall. The Red Sox have gone 44-18 in games when they record eight or more hits.

Roman Anthony — who was originally slated to bat third in Boston’s lineup on Monday as the team’s right fielder — was scratched just before the start of the game. Boston later announced that the promising rookie outfielder was taken out of action due to “mid-back tightness.”