When the Red Sox get to the cleanup spot in their lineup, it will be Jonny Gomes, not David Ortiz, in the batter’s box.
Ortiz is scheduled to get the day off on Sunday, which means manager John Farrell had to do some lineup maneuvering. Gomes will move into left field, Mike Napoli will get the designated hitter duties and Daniel Nava will find himself at first base for a change.
Meanwhile, Jarrod Saltalamacchia is also scheduled to get the afternoon off, so Ryan Lavarnway will get the start at catcher in his place. There will also be a relatively new face at third, as Brandon Snyder will get the start and Jose Iglesias will move over to shortstop as a result of Stephen Drew‘s hamstring injury.
As for the pitching matchup, Boston will send Ryan Dempster (5-8, 4.15 ERA) to the mound to face Mark Buehrle (4-5, 4.73 ERA). Buehrle will try and help the Blue Jays escape Fenway Park with a split, while Dempster will try and give the Sox the series victory.
Check out the rest of this unorthodox Red Sox lineup along with Toronto’s below.
Boston Red Sox (49-34)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Jonny Gomes, LF
Mike Napoli, DH
Daniel Nava, 1B
Ryan Lavarnway, C
Jose Iglesias, SS
Brandon Snyder, 3B
Ryan Dempster, RHP
Toronto Blue Jays (40-40)
Jose Reyes, SS
Jose Bautista, RF
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Adam Lind, 1B
Rajai Davis, LF
Colby Rasmus, CF
J.P. Arencibia, C
Maicer Izturis, 3B
Munenori Kawasaki, 2B
Mark Buehrle, LHP
