Red-Hot Will Middlebrooks Remains in Red Sox Lineup As Sox Open Series With Braves at Fenway

The only thing hotter than the Boston weather right now is Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks. The rookie is so hot that there's no way Bobby Valentine can keep the youngster out of the lineup.

Middlebrooks is back in there again on Friday night as the club opens its final interleague series of the season, welcoming the Braves to Fenway Park.

The rookie is in there again for Kevin Youkilis, and it's almost impossible to argue the move. Middlebrooks was 6-for-8 with two home runs and seven RBIs in a three-game sweep of the Marlins earlier this week.

Middlebrooks isn't the only one swinging it right now, though. In the team's five-game winning streak, Middlebrooks, Daniel Nava and Ryan Kalish are hitting a combined .500 (19-for-38) with two home runs and nine RBIs.

The Sox will look to run the winning streak to six games while they take on Jair Jurrjens, with Jon Lester getting the ball for Boston.

Red Sox
Daniel Nava, LF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Cody Ross, RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Ryan Kalish, CF
Mike Aviles, SS

Jon Lester, P

Braves
Michael Bourn, CF
Martin Prado, 3B
Brian McCann, C
Dan Uggla, 4
Freddie Freeman, 1B
Chipper Jones, DH
Jason Heyward, RF
Matt Diaz, LF
Andrelton Simmons, SS

Jair Jurrjens, P