Dustin Pedroia left Fenway Park early on Wednesday night to be with his family. He'll remain with them on Thursday after his wife gave birth to the couple's second son.
Ivan De Jesus, who was acquired from the Dodgers last month and recently recalled from the minors, will play second base in place of Pedroia. De Jesus will hit ninth.
Mike Aviles returns to the Red Sox lineup as well for the finale with the Yankees. The veteran shortstop delivered a pinch-hit RBI single on Wednesday night while hitting for Jose Iglesias.
The Red Sox will get another look at Phil Hughes, with Jacoby Ellsbury in the leadoff spot. Ellsbury leads the club in hits versus Hughes, going 5-for-13 in his young career.
Derek Jeter, who left Wednesday's game with an injury, is back in the lineup for the Yankees on Thursday night, serving as the designated hitter.
Here are the lineups.
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Scott Podsednik, DH
James Loney, 1B
Cody Ross, RF
Daniel Nava, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Mike Aviles, SS
Pedro Ciriaco, 3B
Ivan De Jesus, 2B
Felix Doubront, P
Yankees
Derek Jeter, DH
Nick Swisher, RF
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Russell Martin, C
Andruw Jones, LF
Curtis Granderson, CF
Steve Pearce, 1B
Eduardo Nunez, SS
Phil Hughes, P
