Minutes before the start of Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox announced Mookie Betts would not be in the lineup.
The right fielder was scheduled to bat leadoff in the series finale, but manager Alex Cora had to shuffle the starting nine after Betts was scratched with left side tightness, per the Boston Herald’s Jason Mastrodonato.
Betts is hitting .359 with 17 home runs, 37 RBIs and 13 stolen bases through the Red Sox’s first 52 games of the season.
In his absence, Blake Swihart will get his first start in the outfield since 2016 and bat seventh.
