Will Middlebrooks is out of the lineup again as the Red Sox are riding the hot hand with Jose Iglesias.
Iglesias went 2-for-3 in Saturday night’s game as one of the few bright spots in a 10-3 drubbing at the hands of Victor Martinez and the Tigers. This will be the third game in a row Middlebrooks is not starting. He’s batting just .138 since coming off the disabled list with a strained lower back.
Iglesias, on the other hand, is batting .441 in June with a .507 OBP and 1.118 OPS. Iglesias was supposed to be a liability with his bat, but he’s still hitting .438 as we’re nearing the end of June.
In an odd twist, Jonny Gomes is starting against righty Justin Verlander in place of lefty Mike Carp or switch hitter Daniel Nava. Gomes is 0-for-6 in his career against Verlander. Nava is 1-for-3 with a double and Carp is 0-for-5.
Check out the team’s starting lineups below.
Boston Red Sox (44-32)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Jonny Gomes, LF
Stephen Drew, SS
Ryan Lavarnway, C
Jose Iglesias, 3B
Felix Doubront, LHP
Detroit Tigers (41-31)
Austin Jackson, CF
Torii Hunter, RF
Miguel Cabrera, 3B
Prince Fielder, DH
Victor Martinez, 1B
Jhonny Peralta, Â SS
Omar Infante, 2B
Avisail Garcia, LF
Bryan Holaday, C
Justin Verlander, RHP
