Dustin Pedroia has rejoined the Red Sox after missing the last two games due to the birth of his first child.
Pedroia flew back to Boston from Toronto on Tuesday to be with his wife, Kelli, for the birth of their son Dylan. He missed Tuesday and Wednesday's wins over the Blue Jays that put the Red Sox back on top in the AL wild-card standings.
Pedroia will be back in the Red Sox lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Blue Jays, starting at second base and hitting second.
Jason Varitek, who has been held out of the first two games of the series against the Blue Jays, is once again not in the starting lineup. Varitek was scratched on Tuesday with a neck issue and did not play on Wednesday for the same reason. In his absence, Victor Martinez is starting at catcher. Check out Leading Off for the complete starting lineups.
