Xander Bogaerts is out of the Boston Red Sox’s starting lineup Saturday against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum.
Bogaerts currently is stuck in a major slump. The Red Sox instead will deploy Jonathan Herrera at third base against right-hander Jesse Chavez, who has had plenty of success with the A’s this season.
Bogaerts, who went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Friday’s loss, enters Saturday’s contest marred in an 0-for-12 skid over his last three games. The 21-year-old is hitting .093 (4-for-43) with 12 strikeouts over his last 12 contests, dropping his season average to .265 and his on-base percentage to .350.
Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Mike Napoli all will slide up one spot in Bogaerts’ absence. Herrera will bat eighth, with Jackie Bradley Jr. rounding out Boston’s lineup out of the No. 9 spot.
Bradley will be joined in the outfield Saturday by Daniel Nava in left field and Brock Holt in right field. Jonny Gomes started the first two games of the series in left field, but Nava will return to the lineup with a right-hander on the hill.
Rubby De La Rosa will take the ball for Boston in what represents an important start for the 25-year-old. The Red Sox will soon need to make a decision regarding who stays in their rotation with Felix Doubront and Clay Buchholz back, and De La Rosa could be on the outside looking in. De La Rosa could make the decision more difficult, however, with another strong showing.
Saturday’s complete lineups are below.
Boston Red Sox (34-40)
Brock Holt, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Daniel Nava, LF
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Stephen Drew, SS
Jonathan Herrera, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Rubby De La Rosa, RHP (2-2, 2.84 ERA)
Oakland Athletics (46-28)
Coco Crisp, CF
John Jaso, C
Yoenis Cespedes, DH
Brandon Moss, LF
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Jed Lowrie, SS
Stephen Vogt, RF
Alberto Callaspo, 1B
Eric Sogard, 2B
Jesse Chavez, RHP (6-4, 2.93 ERA)
