Xander Bogaerts has struggled mightily at the plate over the last several weeks. His spot in Sunday’s lineup reflects those struggles.
Bogaerts will bat ninth for the first time this season as the Boston Red Sox hope to take the rubber match of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on Sunday afternoon.
The 21-year-old will play third base after sitting out Boston’s 7-4 loss to the Orioles in the nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader. Bogaerts went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the first game of the doubleheader and hasn’t recorded a hit in his last seven games.
Brock Holt will resume his duties in right field and bat leadoff, while Daniel Nava will switch over to left field and bat second. Jackie Bradley Jr. returns to the lineup after getting Saturday’s night game off and will play center field and bat eighth.
David Ross will bat seventh and get the start at catcher for the second time in three games for starting pitcher Jake Peavy, who allowed just two runs over six innings in his last start, but took the loss as the Sox fell 2-0 to the Chicago Cubs.
Check out the Red Sox lineup below, and stayed tuned for Baltimore’s lineup.
Boston Red Sox (39-48)
Brock Holt, RF
Daniel Nava, LF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Stephen Drew, SS
David Ross, C
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Xander Bogaerts, 3B
Jake Peavy, RHP (1-7, 4.82 ERA)
Baltimore Orioles (47-40)
Nick Markakis, RF
Steve Pearce, 1B
Adam Jones, CF
Nelson Cruz, DH
Delmon Young, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Manny Machado, 3B
Ryan Flaherty, 2B
Caleb Joseph, C
Kevin Gausman, RHP (3-2, 3.86 ERA)
