David Ortiz is starting to look better and better in the batter’s box since his return to the lineup Saturday, but he won’t be in the lineup to start when the Sox take on Oakland in the middle game of a three-game series against the Athletics.
It’s unclear whether this is injury-related or just another day of rest for the designated hitter, but this will be the second game that Ortiz wasn’t in the starting lineup for of the four games since he’s been activated. Ortiz got the night off Sunday in the second game of a doubleheader with the Kansas City Royals.
First baseman Mike Napoli, who is tearing the cover off of the ball right now, will instead hit cleanup for the Red Sox. Napoli hit a grand slam and drove in five runs Monday, and he now leads the league with 25 RBIs. He is 5-for-9 in his last two games with two home runs and seven RBIs. He’s hitting .379  (11-for-29) with 14 RBIs over his last seven games.
Check out Tuesday’s starting lineups for both teams below.
Oakland Athletics (12-8)
Coco Crisp, CF
John Jaso, C
Seth Smith, DH
Jed Lowrie, SS
Brandon Moss, 1B
Josh Donalson, 3B
Josh Reddick, RF
Chris Young, LF
Eric Sogard, 2B
Bartolo Colon, RHP
Boston Red Sox (13-6)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Mike Napoli, 1B
Daniel Nava, LF
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Jonny Gomes, DH
Stephen Drew, SS
Alfredo Aceves, RHP
