Hitless in his last 20 at-bats, Marco Scutaro has returned to the Red Sox’ starting lineup for the opener of a three-game series in Texas.
Scutaro, who was bothered by neck and elbow issues earlier in the year and has received just four complete days off, was given the break in the finale of the Toronto series Thursday. He will bat second behind Jacoby Ellsbury against Rangers right-hander Tommy Hunter.
The Red Sox starters are a collective 10-for-39 (.256) against Hunter. Adrian Beltre, batting fifth, is 3-for-6 while both J.D. Drew and David Ortiz have hit one home run off Hunter.
Boston will have six left-handed bats in the starting lineup. Hunter, who defeated the Sox in Fenway Park earlier this year, has held righties to a .200 average. Lefties have hit .289. Additionally, his WHIP vs. right-handed batters (0.83) is roughly half what it is against left-handers (1.63).
Here are the complete lineups for both teams.
Red Sox
1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Marco Scutaro, SS
3. Victor Martinez, C
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Adrian Beltre, 3B
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Mike Lowell, 1B
8. Ryan Kalish, LF
9. Jed Lowrie, 2B
Rangers
1. Elvis Andrus, SS
2. Michael Young, 3B,
3. Josh Hamilton, CF
4. Vladimir Guerrero, DH
5. Nelson Cruz, RF
6. David Murphy, LF
7. Bengie Molina, C
8. Mitch Moreland, 1B
9. Andres, Blanco, 2B
