It sounds like the Red Sox are getting ready for life without Jed Lowrie for the forseeable future, and that starts Friday night when Marco Scutaro takes over at shortstop.
Scutaro will bat seventh in the series opener against Milwaukee at Fenway Park on Friday night, as Lowrie is headed to the disabled list with a nagging shoulder injury, according to NESN.com's Tony Lee.
Milwaukee starter Shaun Marcum, a former Blue Jay, is no stranger to the Red Sox from his time in the American League East. The right-hander has made 11 career starts against the Sox, posting a 5-5 record with a 4.38 ERA. He struggled last season against Boston, going 1-3 with a 5.34 ERA in five starts.
Jason Varitek, who will catch Red Sox starter John Lackey and hit ninth, has had some success in the past against Marcum. The switch-hitting catcher has hit Marcum at a .400 clip (4-for-10) in his career.
J.D. Drew returns to the Red Sox lineup in the No. 8 position, and while he's only a .227 (5-for-22) lifetime hitter against Marcum, he does have three home runs off of him.
Both lineups are below, starting with the Red Sox and then the Milwaukee lineup that will square off against Boston starter John Lackey.
Boston
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
Carl Crawford, LF
Marco Scutaro, SS
J.D. Drew, RF
Jason Varitek, C
Milwaukee
Rickie Weeks, 2B
Nyjer Morgan, CF
Ryan Braun, LF
Prince Fielder, DH
Casey McGehee, 3B
Corey Hart, RF
Mark Kotsay, 1B
Jonathan Lucroy, C
Craig Counsel, SS
