As Saturday comes into focus for the Red Sox, the reality has to hit the team like the morning after a long night of drinking. What happened last night?
It's something that Boston wishes was a bad dream, but as the team woke up Saturday, that reality was that the club would likely be without rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks for the rest of the season after he took a ninth-inning fastball off his wrist Friday night. The prognosis appears to be what was feared, a broken bone, meaning the Red Sox will go the entire season without fielding the lineup they were expected to regularly trot out during the preseason.
Nonetheless, baseball life goes on, and as the club called up newcomer Danny Valencia to take Middlebrooks' roster spot. Pedro Ciriaco gets the start at third base on Saturday evening, making just his third big league start at the position.
Aside from that, Ryan Lavarnway gets a chance to show off his bat as the designated hitter, perhaps making an audition for a regular role next season.
Check out the starting lineups for both teams.
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Cody Ross, RF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Ryan Lavarnway, DH
Mike Aviles, SS
Pedro Ciriaco, 3B
Franklin Morales, LHP
Indians
Jason Donald, 2B
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Shin-Soo Choo, RF
Carlos Santana, DH
Michael Brantley, CF
Shelley Duncan, LF
Brent Lillibridge, 3B
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Lou Marson, C
Zach McAllister, RHP
