The monkey on Mike Napoli‘s back keeps growing larger and larger.
After going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts Tuesday night (and a combined 0-for-12 with nine K’s over the last three games) Napoli was dropped to seventh in the order for Wednesday’s tilt in Toronto — the first time all season he has hit that low in the lineup.
After putting up tremendous power numbers early in the year, Napoli’s performance has dropped off drastically. He has gone hitless in eight of his last 10 games and is now batting just .212 with runners in scoring position.
Jonny Gomes will start in left field and occupy Napoli’s usual spot behind David Ortiz while Stephen Drew will slot into the No. 6 spot against Blue Jays right-hander Esmil Rodgers.
Check out the full starting lineups for both teams below.
Boston Red Sox (72-49)
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Jonny Gomes, LF
Stephen Drew, SS
Mike Napoli, 1B
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Jon Lester, LHP
Toronto Blue Jays (54-65)
Jose Reyes, SS
Rajai Davis, CF
Jose Bautista, RF
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B
Brett Lawrie, 3B
Mark DeRosa, DH
J.P. Arencibia, C
Kevin Pillar, LF
Munenori Kawasaki, 2B
Esmil Rodgers, RHP
