Jose Iglesias Getting First Career Start in Majors Due to Jed Lowrie’s Illness

Shortstop Jose Iglesias was called up by the Red Sox sooner than expected, due entirely to a pair of injuries above him on the depth chart. He is getting his first start before many thought he would, manning shortstop and batting ninth Wednesday night in Toronto.

With Jed Lowrie having started 14 of the last 15 games, several while battling a bug that has moved its way through the clubhouse, the 21-year-old Iglesias will get the call. The defensive phenom has appeared in three games since being called up from Pawtucket over the weekend, scoring twice as a pinch runner.

Iglesias struck out but reached on a wild pitch in his first career plate appearance Tuesday night. He hit .253 in 24 games for the PawSox.

The Iglesias debut bumps catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia from ninth to eighth in the lineup, and left fielder Carl Crawford from eighth to seventh. Crawford has a 10-game hitting streak, during which he has hit .341 (14-for-41).

Crawford (5-for-13) is one of a handful of Boston hitters who have enjoyed their meetings with Blue Jays starter Jesse Litsch. Jacoby Ellsbury, who has a 19-game hitting streak, is 4-for-11 (.364). Dustin Pedroia is 5-for-16 (.313). Saltalamacchia has two hits and three RBIs in three plate appearances against Toronto's righty.

With John Lackey on the mound, here is the Red Sox lineup vs. Litsch, followed by the starting lineup for Toronto.

Boston

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
David Ortiz, DH
J.D. Drew, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Jose Iglesias, SS

Toronto

Yunel Escobar, SS
Corey Patterson, LF
Jose Bautista, RF
Juan Rivera, DH
Aaron Hill, 2B
J.P. Arencibia, C
David Cooper, 1B
John McDonald, 3B
Rajai Davis, CF