With a win Tuesday night, the Red Sox can officially call themselves playoff bound.
Boston’s magic number to clinch the American League East sit at four, but a victory in Tuesday’s series opener against Baltimore — the Orioles’ final set at Fenway this season — and an Indians loss will guarantee the Red Sox a wild-card bid, at the very least.
After sitting out on Sunday, when the Sox wrapped up a three-game sweet of the Yankees, Shane Victorino returns to the lineup against the O’s.
Victorino will occupy his usual No. 2 slot in the batting order and Jacoby Ellsbury‘s normal position in center field. Since Ellsbury has been sidelined with a fractured bone in his foot, Victorino and Jackie Bradley Jr. have both seen time in center. Victorino will be flanked Tuesday night by Daniel Nava in right field and Mike Carp in left, who will bat fifth and sixth, respectively.
See the full starting lineups for both teams below.
Boston Red Sox (92-59)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Shane Victorino, CF
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Daniel Nava, RF
Mike Carp, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Stephen Drew, SS
Xander Bogaerts, 3B
Ryan Dempster, RHP
Baltimore Orioles (79-70)
Nate McLouth, LF
Manny Machado, 3B
Chris Davis, 1B
Adam Jones, CF
Nick Markakis, RF
Danny Valencia, DH
Matt Wieters, C
J.J. Hardy, SS
Brian Roberts, 2B
Scott Feldman, RHP
