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Jacoby Ellsbury Scratched From Lineup as Red Sox Try to Avoid Sweep by Baltimore

Editor's note: The temperature gauge is a Bill James-created statistic that measures how hot or cold hitters are. We will spotlight Red Sox and opposing team temperatures on game days.

The Red Sox were looking to get their hottest hitter back in the lineup on Sunday, but Jacoby Ellsbury was scratched after appearing in the original lineup. Ellsbury hasn't played since coming off the bench in the series finale against the Rays on Thursday, and Scott Podsednik will take over in center field and lead off in his place Sunday.

Pedro Ciriaco, who is getting some time at second base, had two hits in each of the first two games of the series, scoring one of the six Red Sox runs in Saturday's extra-innings loss. Daniel Nava will also try to keep his hot bat going after having a 2-for-3 outing with two walks Saturday.

Adam Jones, who has hit home runs in two of his last three games, has tortured Boston pitching in the first two games of the series and is one of Baltimore's hottest hitters coming into Sunday.

Here are the temperature gauges for the Orioles and Red Sox for Sunday, Sept. 23:

Red Sox

Jacoby Ellsbury, 84
Pedro Ciriaco, 76
Daniel Nava, 74
Jose Iglesias, 74
Ryan Kalish, 72
Guillermo Quiroz, 71
Scott Podsednik, 70
Mike Aviles, 70
Mauro Gomez, 70
Dustin Pedroia, 68
Danny Valencia, 63
James Loney, 61
Ivan De Jesus, 59
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, 57
Ryan Lavarnway, 57
Cody Ross, 50

Orioles

Matt Wieters, 90
Adam Jones, 86
Ryan Flaherty, 85
Nick Markakis, 73
Steve Tolleson, 73
Chris Davis, 72
Luis Exposito, 71
Robert Andino, 70
Xavier Avery, 67
Wilson Betemit, 67
Taylor Teagarden, 66
Jim Thome, 64
Nate McLouth, 64
Manny Machado, 63
Endy Chavez, 62
Omar Quintanilla, 61
Mark Reynolds, 60
Lew Ford, 60
J.J. Hardy, 51