The bottom of the Red Sox lineup takes on another new look Thursday in the opener of a four-game series in Detroit.
Josh Reddick has been instituted in the lineup after a recall from Triple-A Pawtucket. He will play right field and bat eighth. J.D. Drew has been dealing with a sore right hamstring, Darnell McDonald is reportedly headed to the disabled list with a quad injury and Terry Francona wanted another left-hander in to face Max Scherzer, so Mike Cameron begins the game on the bench.
Reddick has hit just .248 in 44 games for the PawSox, but he has 12 home runs and 29 RBIs in that span, both tops on the team.
The young outfielder will be batting two spots behind Carl Crawford, who is getting his second career start in the sixth spot in the lineup. His first in that role came Wednesday, and Crawford went 4-for-4 with a home run.
Drew Sutton will give Jed Lowrie a rest and play shortstop. Lowrie had played in 12 straight games and 24 of the last 25. His average is down to .300 for the first time since April 6. Kevin Youkilis returns to third base after a game off with a sore left hand.
David Ortiz, batting fifth, is 3-for-5 with two home runs against Scherzer.
Here is the complete batting order for both teams.
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Carl Crawford, LF
Drew Sutton, SS
Josh Reddick, RF
Jason Varitek, C
Tigers
Austin Jackson, CF
Don Kelly, LF
Brennan Boesch, RF
Miguel Cabrera, 1B
Victor Martinez, DH
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Alex Avila, C
Scott Sizemore, 2B
Brandon Inge, 3B
