Dustin Pedroia Returns To Lineup As Red Sox Open Second Half Vs. Angels

Dustin Pedroia is back.

Pedroia will return to the Boston Red Sox’s starting lineup Friday night as the club begins its second-half slate against the Los Angeles Angels on the West Coast. The second baseman has been sidelined since June 24 with a hamstring injury that forced him onto the 15-day disabled list.

Pedroia was swinging the bat well before landing on the DL. He hit .350 (28-for-80) with two home runs, 12 RBIs and a .902 OPS in 19 games in June. He’s hitting .306 with nine homers, 33 RBIs and an .819 OPS in 69 games this season.

Red Sox manager John Farrell inserted Pedroia into his customary spot in the No. 2 hole for Friday night’s clash with the Halos. Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts will sandwich Pedroia in front of the cleanup hitter, David Ortiz. Brock Holt, who played second base in Pedroia’s absence, will be out of the starting lineup for Boston’s series opener in L.A.

Reliever Matt Barnes was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room for Pedroia on the roster.

The complete lineups for Friday’s Red Sox-Angels matchup are below.

RED SOX (42-47)
Mookie Betts, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, LF
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Mike Napoli, 1B
Shane Victorino, RF
Ryan Hanigan, C

Wade Miley, LHP (8-8, 4.80 ERA)

ANGELS (48-40)
Johnny Giavotella, 2B
Kole Calhoun, RF
Mike Trout, CF
Albert Pujols, 1B
Erick Aybar, SS
David Freese, 3B
C.J. Cron, DH
Chris Iannetta, C
Daniel Robertson, LF

C.J. Wilson, LHP (7-7, 3.83 ERA)

Thumbnail photo via Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports Images