With Mookie Betts on the seven-day concussion list, the Boston Red Sox had to shuffle their lineup Wednesday as they continue their four-game series against the Chicago White Sox.
Betts took a hard fall into the bullpen Tuesday night while trying to catch an eventual Jose Abreu home run during Boston’s 9-4 loss, so Brock Holt will return to action and lead off after hyperextending his knee Sunday. Holt will play second base, where he figures to be a regular with Dustin Pedroia on the disabled list.
Jackie Bradley Jr. will fill in for Betts in center field and bat eighth, while Rusney Castillo will man right field and bat sixth. Ryan Hanigan also will take over at catcher for Blake Swihart and bat seventh.
Rick Porcello will be on the mound for the Red Sox as he looks to overcome what’s been a rough season for the right-hander. Still, Porcello has bounced back slightly since taking a beating against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 1. He since has managed to give up five earned runs over 18 innings in his last three starts, including a no-decision in his last outing, when he tossed seven innings of one-run ball against the Detroit Tigers, his former team.
Here are both teams’ lineups for Wednesday.
RED SOX (44-57)
Brock Holt, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Hanley Ramirez, LF
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Rusney Castillo, RF
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Ryan Hanigan, C
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Rick Porcello, RHP (5-10, 5.51 ERA)
WHITE SOX (48-50)
Adam Eaton, CF
Tyler Saladino, 3B
Melky Cabrera, LF
Jose Abreu, 1B
Adam LaRoche, DH
Avisail Garcia, RF
Alexei Ramirez, SS
Carlos Sanchez, 2B
Tyler Flowers, C
Jose Quintana, LHP (5-9, 3.56 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
