Two of the Boston Red Sox’s everyday starters will begin Wednesday’s contest on the bench.
Center fielder Mookie Betts and third baseman Pablo Sandoval were left out of the starting lineup for Boston’s matchup with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
It snapped a streak of 30 consecutive starts for Betts dating back to June 15 — the day he returned from a two-game absence caused by a collision with Fenway Park’s center field wall. The 22-year-old has one hit — a two-run double — in his last 20 at-bats.
Alejandro De Aza took up Betts’ usual post in center, and Brock Holt, who started Tuesday’s game at first base, replaced Sandoval at third. Mike Napoli, who’s batting just .197 this season but went 2-for-4 with a double in Game 2 of Monday’s doubleheader in Anaheim, got the nod at first.
Penciled in as Boston’s starting pitcher was Joe Kelly, who on Wednesday was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket. To make room for Kelly, rookie left-hander Brian Johnson reportedly was optioned back to Pawtucket. Johnson made his major league debut Tuesday night, allowing four runs on three hits in 4 1/3 innings in an 8-3 loss to the Astros.
The loss was the sixth in a row for the Red Sox, who have gone winless since the All-Star break.
Here are Wednesday’s starting lineups:
RED SOX (42-52)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Brock Holt, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, LF
Alejandro De Aza, CF
Shane Victorino, RF
Mike Napoli, 1B
Blake Swihart, C
Joe Kelly, RHP (2-5, 5.67 ERA)
ASTROS (53-43)
Jose Altuve, 2B
Preston Tucker, LF
Carlos Correa, SS
Jose Valbuena, 3B
Evan Gattis, DH
Colby Rasmus, RF
Jon Singleton, 1B
Jake Marisnick, CF
Jason Castro, C
Collin McHugh, RHP (10-5, 4.35 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
