Dustin Pedroia is taking a breather.
The Boston Red Sox second baseman will sit as the team takes on the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday for Game 3 of their four-game series. Pedroia had a rough day in Boston’s 4-1 loss Saturday, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts while leaving five men on base.
It’s perfect timing for a routine day off, though, as red-hot Brock Holt will slide into Pedroia’s place on the right side of the infield. Holt, who will lead off, is batting .579 (11-for-19) in six games this season.
Mookie Betts and Shane Victorino are back in the lineup after both took a seat Saturday. Betts, who enjoyed a day off, will be back in his center field post and bat second. Victorino, whose ribs are feeling better, will man right field and bat seventh.
Rick Porcello will be on the mound for the Red Sox, as he looks to stay in the win column. The right-hander went eight innings in his last start, surrendering three earned runs and striking out six in a 9-4 win against the Washington Nationals. He’ll have to rely on his offense figuring out the Orioles’ Miguel Gonzalez, though, as the righty has given up only one run in his last two starts and struck out 10 New York Yankees in his last outing.
Here are the complete lineups for Sunday’s Red Sox-Orioles matchup.
RED SOX (7-4)
Brock Holt, 2B
Mookie Betts, CF
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, LF
Mike Napoli, 1B
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Shane Victorino, RF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Sandy Leon, C
Rick Porcello, RHP (1-1, 3.86 ERA)
ORIOLES (6-5)
Everth Cabrera, SS
Jimmy Paredes, DH
Adam Jones, CF
Chris Davis, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Travis Snider, RF
Manny Machado, 3B
Ryan Flaherty, 2B
Caleb Joseph, C
Miguel Gonzalez, RHP (1-1, 1.42 ERA)
