David Ortiz is out of the Boston Red Sox’s starting lineup for Sunday’s series finale against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.
Ortiz collected two hits, including a solo homer, in Saturday’s 4-2 win, but with a day game after a night game, manager John Farrell opted to rest the 39-year-old as Boston concludes its 10-game road trip.
Hanley Ramirez will serve as Boston’s designated hitter in Ortiz’s absence. Brock Holt will man Ramirez’s usual left field post and be joined in the outfield by Mookie Betts (center field) and Shane Victorino (right field). Both Betts and Victorino sat out Saturday’s game against Felix Hernandez.
Dustin Pedroia will slide down to third in the Red Sox’s order with Ortiz out of the lineup. Victorino, who has swung the bat well over his last couple of games, will bat in Pedroia’s usual No. 2 spot.
Steven Wright will make his first start of the season for the Red Sox. The knuckleballer threw 110 pitches in relief Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics, but he’ll be given an opportunity to deliver Boston’s first offering Sunday, as Justin Masterson was placed on the 15-day disabled list earlier this week.
The complete lineups for Sunday’s Red Sox-Mariners matchup are below.
RED SOX (18-19)
Mookie Betts, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Hanley Ramirez, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Brock Holt, RF
Blake Swihart, C
Steven Wright, RHP (1-0, 4.22 ERA)
MARINERS (16-20)
Brad Miller, SS
Justin Ruggiano, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Logan Morrison, 1B
Rickie Weeks, LF
Dustin Ackley, CF
Mike Zunino, C
James Paxton, LHP (1-2, 4.31 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Jennifer Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports Images
