Mike Napoli is taking a seat.
The Boston Red Sox first baseman is out of the team’s lineup against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday after swinging for the golden sombrero in Boston’s 6-4 loss Tuesday. Manager John Farrell already had bumped Napoli to the No. 8 spot against the O’s, but his 0-for-4, four-strikeout effort earned him a spot on the bench.
Brock Holt shifts to first base in Napoli’s stead and will bat in his usual No. 2 spot. Alejandro De Aza will fill the hole in right field against his former team and bat eighth.
Clay Buchholz will be on the bump for the Red Sox, looking to win back-to-back starts for the first time this season. After a rocky April, Buchholz has bounced back a bit, delivering quality starts in six of his last eight outings. Buchholz’s last start against the Orioles on April 18 was OK, but nothing to call home about. The right-hander struck out seven and allowed just two runs in a 4-1 loss but gave up 11 hits in six innings of work.
Check out the lineups for both teams below.
RED SOX (31-41)
Mookie Betts, CF
Brock Holt, 1B
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, LF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Alejandro De Aza, RF
Sandy Leon, C
Clay Buchholz, RHP (4-6, 3.87 ERA)
ORIOLES (37-33)
Manny Machado, 3B
Chris Parmelee, RF
Jimmy Paredes, DH
Chris Davis, 1B
J.J. Hardy, SS
Travis Snider, LF
Ryan Flaherty, 2B
Caleb Joseph, C
David Lough, CF
Bud Norris, RHP (2-5, 7.57 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports Images
