The Boston Red Sox lineup has changed all season, and Friday night will be no different.
The Red Sox open a three-game set against the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park, and they’ll do so without David Ortiz and Pablo Sandoval in the lineup. The two sluggers will sit to start with left-hander Scott Kazmir on the mound for Oakland.
Sitting Ortiz does allow Hanley Ramirez to serve as Boston’s designated hitter. Red Sox manager John Farrell admitted Ramirez continues to be a “work in progress” in left field after another rough day in the field Thursday.
As for Sandoval, the third baseman had one of his worst games as a Red Sox on Thursday, making two errors and going 0-for-4 in an 8-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins. Sandoval, just 4-for-37 in his last 10 games, will be replaced in the lineup by Brock Holt, who will hit second behind leadoff hitter Dustin Pedroia.
Recently acquired Alejandro De Aza will make his Red Sox debut in left field and hit eighth.
Wade Miley gets the start for the Red Sox.
RED SOX (24-31)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Brock Holt, 3B
Hanley Ramirez, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Mookie Betts, CF
Blake Swihart, C
Alejandro De Aza, LF
Rusney Castillo, RF
Wade Miley (4-5, 4.97)
ATHLETICS (23-33)
Billy Burns, CF
Marcus Semien, SS
Ben Zobrist, LF
Billy Butler, DH
Brett Lawrie, 3B
Josh Reddick, RF
Josh Phegley, C
Mark Canha, 1B
Eric Sogard, 2B
Scott Kazmir, LHP (2-3, 2.93)
Thumbnail photo via Anthony Gruppuso/USA TODAY Sports Images
