Designated hitter David Ortiz will be back in the Boston lineup for the final game of a three-game set. It’s Ortiz’s first appearance since Sunday when he suffered a bruised right foot.
The Red Sox have gotten by pretty well without the slugger. In their two wins over the Blue Jays, the Sox have combined for 15 runs, including a seven-run 11th inning in their 11-7 win Tuesday night.
Ortiz and the Red Sox will be going up against rookie right-hander Marcus Stroman. The Duke product has had plenty of success against the Red Sox this season. Stroman is 2-0 in two starts against Boston, allowing just one run on seven hits in 14 innings of work with 15 strikeouts. Stroman carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Boston on July 24.
The Red Sox will turn to Joe Kelly, who is still looking for his first win in a Boston uniform. Kelly did pitch five scoreless innings in his last start but took a no-decision in an eventual loss to ther Seattle Mariners on Aug. 22.
Here’s the full Red Sox lineup.
Red Sox (58-74)
Brock Holt, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Daniel Nava, LF
Allen Craig, RF
Mookie Betts, CF
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
David Ross, C
Joe Kelly, P
Blue Jays (66-66)
Jose Reyes, SS
Melky Cabrera, LF
Jose Bautista, RF
Adam Lind, 1B
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Dioner Navarro, C
Juan Francisco, 3B
Kevin Pillar, CF
Munenori Kawasaki, 2B
Marcus Stroman, P