In their last game before losing the designated hitter for a six-game stretch, the Red Sox will again bat David Ortiz in the No. 3 spot as they finish a nine-game homestand against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ortiz is a .262 hitter in the third spot, but has drawn 17 walks against 16 strikeouts in that role. Contrast that with the struggles he had batting fifth, where he went .214 with nine free passes and 30 Ks in 22 games.
The slugger will likely be forced to sit some of the club's upcoming six-game road trip to Colorado and San Francisco.
For the second straight game the Sox' lineup will feature a bottom third of all outfielders, with Mike Cameron returning to the fold after another day off. Cameron is one of just four Boston players to have faced Dodgers starter Hiroki Kurado, going 2-for-3 vs. the LA righty.
Here are the complete lineups for both teams:
Red Sox
Marco Scutaro, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Victor Martinez, C
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Daniel Nava, LF
Mike Cameron, CF
Darnell McDonald, RF
Los Angeles
Matt Kemp, CF
Andre Ethier, RF
Manny Ramirez, DH
James Loney, 1B
Garret Anderson, LF
Casey Blake, 3B
Russell Martin, C
Blake DeWitt, 2B
Jamey Carroll, SS
