History awaits Jansen as suspended game resumes in Boston

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While five games will be played at Fenway Park between the Blue Jays and Red Sox over the next four days, the most fascinating is Monday’s scheduled 2 p.m. matchup.

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When weather led to the June 26 game between the two AL East rivals in Boston being suspended, the Jays’ lineup had Bo Bichette at leadoff, Justin Turner at cleanup, catcher Danny Jansen hitting in the No. 7 hole followed by Isiah Kiner-Falefa and finally Kevin Kiermaier to round out the bottom of the order. All but Bichette have since been traded.

Jansen was at-bat that day when a heavy rain fell and forced the game to be suspended.

Monday’s resumption essentially picks up from where the June 26 game left off with one out in the top of the second inning, the count 0-1 on Jansen and Davis Schneider on first base after he drew a walk.

And that’s where it gets interesting. Jansen now plays for the Red Sox after being traded there at the July 31 deadline. So Jays manager John Schneider will have to pinch-hit for Jansen, who will be, at that moment, behind the plate as the Boston catcher.

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Jansen is enjoying his odd slice of baseball history as he prepares to become the first major league player to appear in the same game for both teams.

The veteran catcher could now be on his way to the Hall of Fame — if only as a footnote — with an authenticator expected to be on hand on Monday to grab an artifact for the museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., from the historic game.

“Baseball has been around for so long, there’s so many things that’s happened in the game. So I was surprised when I found out I was the first,” Jansen said in the Red Sox clubhouse this weekend. “Any time you can be a part of this great game’s history, it’s pretty unique.”

Red Sox manager Alex Cora has confirmed he will put Jansen in the lineup when the game resumes.

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“He will play Game 1, by the way, for all the people who have been looking at history,” the Red Sox manager said Friday. “You know what? Yeah, he’s catching. Let’s make history.”

“It’s a bit strange,” Jansen said. “But it’s one of those oddities of the game and it’s pretty cool. I’m still surprised that it hasn’t happened, but it’s a cool thing.”

The historic game will be part of a day-night doubleheader, Toronto’s first trip back to Fenway Park since then.

The Blue Jays will have to hit for Jansen to start things off. The Red Sox also need to replace Reese McGuire — also an ex-Jay — who started at catcher for them on June 26. He was sent to triple-A Worcester to make room for Jansen.

Jose Berrios is expected to start in the first game, but it will technically be in a relief role, one of Monday’s many oddities.

– with files from The Associated Press

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