David Ortiz’s sabbatical is over.
Ortiz, who sat out the last two games to fix his swing and catch his breath, is penciled into the Boston Red Sox’s starting lineup Saturday against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park. The slugger will bat third and assume his usual role as the club’s designated hitter.
Ortiz said after Friday’s 7-4 loss that he spent his two-day break working in the “Ortiz Laboratory.” He said Thursday he hopes to “come back and rake” in his return to the lineup, which obviously would provide a huge boost to a Red Sox offense still struggling to produce timely hits.
Hanley Ramirez served as the DH the last two games in Ortiz’s absence. He homered in both, but he’ll return to left field Saturday as Chi Chi Gonzalez makes his major league debut on the hill for Texas.
Brock Holt will play shortstop in the third game of the teams’ four-game set. Xander Bogaerts was drilled on the left forearm by a pitch in the series opener, though he returned to the lineup Friday.
Check out the complete lineups for Saturday’s Red Sox-Rangers matchup below.
RED SOX (22-27)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Mookie Betts, CF
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, LF
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Mike Napoli, 1B
Brock Holt, SS
Sandy Leon, C
Rusney Castillo, RF
Wade Miley, LHP (4-4, 4.47 ERA)
RANGERS (24-25)
Delino DeShields, LF
Elvis Andrus, SS
Prince Fielder, DH
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Josh Hamilton, RF
Adam Rosales, 1B
Leonys Martin, CF
Robinson Chirinos, C
Hanser Alberto, 2B
Chi Chi Gonzalez, RHP (0-0, — )
Thumbnail photo via Joy R. Absalon/USA TODAY Sports Images
