Birthday boy Tanner Houck to take mound against Padres

Tanner Houck #89 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the first inning of the MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. (Photo by Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Tanner Houck turns 28 on Saturday and he’ll try to celebrate his birthday with a big win.

Houck is expected to start for the Red Sox against the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of this weekend’s series. Houck, an American League All-Star Game contender, comes in with a 7-5 record and 2.18 ERA and will aim to end Boston’s recent two-game skid.

Houck will face San Diego’s Michael King (5-5, 3.75 ERA), a former Boston College player who played at Bishop Hendricken in Warwick, Rhode Island. The Red Sox will also load their lineup with lefties to face the talented right-hander, stacking four left-handed hitters in the top five spots, including Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu one-two, right-hander Tyler O’Neill third, and then Rafael Devers and Masataka Yoshida four-five.

Red Sox roster

Jarren Duran CF

Wilyer Abreu RF

Tyler O’Neill LF

Rafael Devers 3B

Masataka Yoshida DH

Connor Wong C

Emmanuel Valdez 2B

Dominic Smith 1B

Ceddanne Rafaela SS

Tanner Houck P.

How to watch

When:4:10 p.m.

Or: Fenway Park, Boston

Broadcast information: NESN, WEEI 93.7 FM, WCCM 1490 AM (Spanish)