The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays will meet Monday afternoon at Tropicana Field in the finale of a four-game series.
Boston is aiming to win its third game of the series, but it will have to do that without David Ortiz in the lineup. The veteran slugger will be replaced by Mike Napoli, who is batting in the cleanup spot as the designated hitter. Allen Craig is taking Napoli’s spot at first base and batting fifth.
Dustin Pedroia also is out of the lineup after taking a vicious elbow to the head during Saturday’s game. Brock Holt will play second base and bat second. He leads the AL with a .364 batting average in day games this season. Will Middlebrooks gets the start at third base.
Mookie Betts will get a chance to impress manager John Farrell in the leadoff spot Monday. The rookie center fielder has four hits and five RBI through the first three games of this series.
The Red Sox will send Rubby De La Rosa to the mound. He’s 4-5 with a 3.85 earned run average this season. He gave up three earned runs ans seven hits in his previous outing — a no-decision against the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 26. De La Rosa will be opposed by Drew Smyly, who’s 9-10 with a 3.31 ERA. He’s 3-1 since the Rays acquired him from the Detroit Tigers on July 31 as part of the David Price blockbuster trade.
In other roster news, Boston announced it has recalled right-handed pitcher Steven Wright from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Here are the Monday lineups for both teams.
Boston Red Sox (60-76)
Mookie Betts, CF
Brock Holt, 2B
Yoenis Cespedes, LF
Mike Napoli, DH
Allen Craig, 1B
Daniel Nava, RF
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Christian Vazquez, C
Rubby De La Rosa, RHP (4-5, 3.85 ERA)
Tampa Bay Rays (66-71)
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Will Myers, RF
Matt Joyce, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
James Loney, 1B
David Dejesus, DH
Yunel Escobar, SS
Ryan Hanigan, C
Kevin Kiermaier, CF
Drew Smyly (9-10, 3.31 ERA)
