Felix Doubront

When the Red Sox play the third game of their four-game series with the Royals on Sunday at Fenway Park, Felix Doubront will make his first start since Aug. 9, when he was placed on the 15-day DL with a right knee contusion.

Doubront’s season has been solid, though he’s been a beneficiary of great run support in his wins (8.8). Overall, he’s 10-6 with a 4.70 ERA, but his two starts in August have been abysmal as he’s allowed nine earned runs over 9 1/3 innings. He hasn’t registered a win since July 18.

In his last outing on Aug. 9, he allowed four runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings in a 5-3 loss to the Indians, giving him his sixth loss of the year.

The 24-year-old’s only appearance vs. the Royals in his career came on May 7 at Kauffman Stadium. He had a solid effort, going 6 1/3 innings and allowing only three earned runs on seven hits in an 11-5 Red Sox win. Only two Royals batters, Jarrod Dyson and Alex Gordon, have more than three at-bats against Doubront. They are 2-for-4 and 2-f0r-3, respectively.

Kansas City rookie Will Smith will make his 11th major league start opposite Doubront.

Smith’s season and MLB career began on May 23 in an 8-3 loss to the Yankees in which he allowed five runs in only 3 1/3 innings. The rookie hasn’t been able to find consistency in the majors, going 4-5 with a 5.40 ERA and recording only five quality starts. He also has only eclipsed the 100-pitch mark once this season. His best outing came against the Angels on July 24 when he allowed only one run in seven innings in a 4-1 win.

The 23-year-old only lasted 3 2/3 innings in his last start on Aug. 20 against the Rays. He allowed four runs on eight hits, throwing only 74 pitches in a 5-1 loss.

This will be both Smith’s first start against the Red Sox and his first start at Fenway Park.

Royals vs. Doubront (LHP)

Jarrod Dyson (4 plate appearances): .500 BA/.500 OBP/.500 SLG

Alex Gordon (4): .667/.750/.667, 1 RBI, 1 walk

Billy Butler (3): .000/.333/.000, 1 walk

Alcides Escobar (3): .333/.333/.333

Jeff Francoeur (3): .000/.333/.000

Eric Hosmer (3): .000/.000/.000, 1 RBI, 1 strikeout

Mike Moustakas (3): .333/.333/.667, 1 double

Brayan Pena (3): .333/.333/.333, 1 RBI

Red Sox vs. Smith (LHP)

No current Red Sox batters have faced Smith.