With the AL East as tight as it's been in recent years, the Red Sox and Rays meet in an important two-game series that starts Tuesday in Tampa Bay. The Red Sox enter the series with a four-game winning streak after beating up on the Orioles, but if they are to extend that streak, they will have to do it without Jason Bay.
Bay left Saturday's game with a cramped left hamstring, an injury deemed not serious. He did not play in the series finale against the Orioles on Sunday in Baltimore and is not in the starting lineup against the Rays on Tuesday.
Mike Lowell, who will now get more time off with Victor Martinez joining the team, is also not in the lineup as Kevin Youkilis gets the start at third with Martinez at first.
J.D. Drew left Sunday's game in the first inning after aggravating the left groin that had recently sidelined him, but he is back in the lineup and starting in right field for the Red Sox in the series opener against the Rays.
Here is the complete Red Sox lineup for Tuesday's game against Tampa Bay:
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Victor Martinez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
J.D. Drew, RF
Jason Varitek, C
Josh Reddick, LF
Nick Green, SS
