The Boston Red Sox will attempt to sweep the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night, and the Sox will have reinforcements in the lineup.
Designated hitter David Ortiz will be back in the Boston lineup for the final game of a three-game set. It’s Ortiz’s first appearance since Sunday when he suffered a bruised right foot.
The Red Sox have gotten by pretty well without the slugger. In their two wins over the Blue Jays, the Sox have combined for 15 runs, including a seven-run 11th inning in their 11-7 win Tuesday night.
Ortiz and the Red Sox will be going up against rookie right-hander Marcus Stroman. The Duke product has had plenty of success against the Red Sox this season. Stroman is 2-0 in two starts against Boston, allowing just one run on seven hits in 14 innings of work with 15 strikeouts. Stroman carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Boston on July 24.
The Red Sox will turn to Joe Kelly, who is still looking for his first win in a Boston uniform. Kelly did pitch five scoreless innings in his last start but took a no-decision in an eventual loss to ther Seattle Mariners on Aug. 22.
Here’s the full Red Sox lineup.
Red Sox (58-74)
Brock Holt, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Daniel Nava, LF
Allen Craig, RF
Mookie Betts, CF
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
David Ross, C
Joe Kelly, P
Blue Jays (66-66)
Jose Reyes, SS
Melky Cabrera, LF
Jose Bautista, RF
Adam Lind, 1B
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Dioner Navarro, C
Juan Francisco, 3B
Kevin Pillar, CF
Munenori Kawasaki, 2B
Marcus Stroman, P
