BOSTON — The Red Sox will send Jon Lester to the hill Saturday as they look to make it two straight over the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park.
Lester is looking to rebound from back-to-back losses to the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. The Red Sox’s lineup, which only produced one run in Lester’s last start, will be without outfielder Shane Victorino to begin the game.
Victorino is not in Boston’s starting lineup as part of a routine off day, although The Flyin’ Hawaiian is available to come off the bench, according to Red Sox manager John Farrell. Jackie Bradley Jr. will start in right field in Victorino’s absence, while Grady Sizemore will get the nod in center field.
Farrell said before Saturday’s game that the decision to go with Bradley in right and Sizemore in center is due to Bradley’s arm strength and range. The Sox skipper insisted right field — given its space and odd dimensions — might be the most difficult position to play at Fenway.
Xander Bogaerts will slide up into the No. 2 spot in the lineup with Victorino out. The shortstop enters the contest with a .395 on-base percentage. He has reached base in 25 of 28 games this season, and his 41 times on base in March/April ranked second among Red Sox rookies in the last 100 years — trailing only Nomar Garciaparra (45 times).
Saturday’s complete lineups are below.
Boston Red Sox (14-16)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz DH,
Mike Napoli, 1B
Jonny Gomes, LF
Grady Sizemore, CF
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., RF
David Ross, C
Jon Lester, LHP (2-4, 3.10 ERA)
Oakland Athletics (18-11)
Coco Crisp, CF
Jed Lowrie, SS
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Yoenis Cespedes, DH
Derek Norris, C
Alberto Callaspo, 1B
Craig Gentry, LF
Josh Reddick, RF
Nick Punto, 2B
Tommy Milone, LHP (0-2, 4.56 ERA)
