The Red Sox aren't wasting any time easing Ryan Lavarnway into the lineup as manager Terry Francona is tossing Thursday's call-up into the game as the team's starting DH against the Royals.
Lavarnway, a catcher, will be hitting seventh in front of the team's longtime catcher and captain, Jason Varitek.
David Ortiz is sitting out the series opener with a right heel injury and is expected to miss roughly a week.
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Jed Lowrie, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1b
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Josh Reddick, RF
Carl Crawford, LF
Ryan Lavarnway, DH
Jason Varitek, C
Mike Aviles, SS
Royals
Alex Gordon, LF
Melky Cabrera, CF
Billy Butler, DH
Eric Hosmer, 1B
Jeff Francoeur, RF
Johnny Giavotella, 2B
Salvador Perez, C
Mike Moustakas, 3B
Alcides Escobar, SS
