The Boston Red Sox will steer clear of using third baseman Pablo Sandoval to open their four-game weekend series against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.
Sandoval, who has struggled mightily against left-handed pitching this season, is not in the Red Sox’s starting lineup Thursday as the Mariners counter with southpaw Roenis Elias. Brock Holt will start at third base and bat seventh with Sandoval beginning the series opener on Boston’s bench.
Sandoval enters Thursday’s game hitting .285 with four homers, 15 RBIs and a .776 OPS. His splits are rather crazy, though, as the 28-year-old is batting .371 (33-for-89) with a 1.007 OPS as a left-handed hitter against right-handed pitchers and .059 (2-for-34) with a .145 OPS as a right-handed hitter against left-handed pitchers. Boston is scheduled to face three lefties over its next four games.
Shane Victorino will start in right field Thursday after sitting out Wednesday’s series finale against the Oakland Athletics. He’ll be joined in the outfield by Mookie Betts (center field) and Hanley Ramirez (left field).
The complete lineups for Thursday’s Red Sox-Mariners matchup are below.
RED SOX (16-18)
Mookie Betts, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, LF
Mike Napoli, 1B
Shane Victorino, RF
Brock Holt, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Blake Swihart, C
Joe Kelly, RHP (1-2, 6.35 ERA)
MARINERS (15-18)
Seth Smith, RF
Brad Miller, LF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Logan Morrison, 1B
Mike Zunino, C
Dustin Ackley, CF
Chris Taylor SS
Roenis Elias, LHP (0-1, 3.86 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports Images
