The Boston Red Sox will have David Ortiz’s bat at their disposal Thursday night as they look to salvage the finale of their three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
Ortiz, who has not played since leaving Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Royals due to a family emergency, will start at first base and bat third against Pirates right-hander — and 2011 No. 1 overall draft pick — Gerrit Cole. Ortiz went hitless in three at-bats Sunday but has reached base multiple times in six of his last 10 games
Elsewhere, both of the Red Sox’s Cuban outfielders, Yoenis Cespedes and Rusney Castillo, will get the night off. Castillo made his major league debut Wednesday night, going 1-for-4 with an infield single.
Daniel Nava, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Allen Craig will start from left to right in the outfield.
See the full lineups below.
Boston Red Sox (66-86)
Mookie Betts, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, 1B
Allen Craig, RF
Daniel Nava, LF
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Christian Vazquez, C
Brandon Workman, RHP (1-9, 5.27 ERA)
Pittsburgh Pirates (81-70)
Josh Harrison, 3B
Travis Snider, RF
Andrew McCutchen, CF
Neil Walker, 2B
Starling Marte, LF
Ike Davis, 1B
Jordy Mercer, SS
Chris Stewart, C
Gerrit Cole, RHP (9-5, 3.92 ERA)
Photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
