Jacoby Ellsbury‘s groin injury is improving, manager John Farrell said Tuesday, but the center fielder is not yet ready to return to the Red Sox lineup.
Ellsbury, who has not played since last Thursday, will sit again Tuesday night, giving Jackie Bradley Jr. his fourth straight start in center as Boston welcomes the American League West-leading Texas Rangers to Fenway Park.
Bradley, in his second stint with the big league club this season, has gone 3-for-10 with two doubles and two runs scored since taking over for Ellsbury.
The Red Sox return home after taking two of three from the Yankees, and Farrell will trot out the same lineup Boston fielded in Sunday’s rain-shortened series finale in the Bronx. Texas, meanwhile, will be without All-Stars Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler, both of whom are suffering from injuries.
Starting in Kinsler’s place at second base is 20-year-old Jurickson Profar, the top-ranked prospect by both Baseball America and MLB.com. In 10 games this season, Profar has hit .324 with two home runs and six RBIs.
Check out the full starting lineups for both teams below.
Boston Red Sox (35-23)
Daniel Nava, LF
Mike Carp, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Stephen Drew, SS
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Jose Iglesias, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Ryan Dempster, RHP
Texas Rangers (35-21)
Elvis Andrus, SS
David Murphy, LF
Lance Berkman, DH
Nelson Cruz, RF
Mitch Moreland, 1B
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Jeff Baker, 3B
Jurickson Profar, 2B
Leonys Martin, CF
Justin Grimm, RHP
