Alejandro De Aza To Start Again As Red Sox Eye Three-Game Sweep Of Mets

Torey Lovullo is sticking to his guns when it comes to his outfield rotation.

The acting Boston Red Sox manager said earlier this month he’d be sure to allocate starts for all five of his outfielders, and he’s done so this weekend, penciling Alejandro De Aza in for a second consecutive start Sunday against the New York Mets.

Before Saturday’s game, during which De Aza went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts, the veteran outfielder hadn’t started a ballgame since Aug. 19.

With De Aza starting in left field — Hanley Ramirez remains sidelined with a shoulder injury — and Rusney Castillo in right, Jackie Bradley Jr. will begin Sunday’s series finale on the bench. Bradley struggled Saturday against Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom, going 0-for-4 with three K’s in Boston’s 3-1 win.

David Ortiz also returns to the Red Sox lineup after pinch-hitting in the ninth inning Saturday. He’ll start at first base and bat cleanup.

A win Sunday against New York right-hander Noah Syndergaard would give the Red Sox their first series sweep since July 8 and their first of more than two games since June 7.

Here are the full starting lineups for both teams:

RED SOX (60-69)
Mookie Betts, CF
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, 1B
Brock Holt, 2B
Rusney Castillo, RF
Blake Swihart, C
Alejandro De Aza, LF

Wade Miley, LHP (10-10, 4.51 ERA)

METS (71-58)
Juan Lagares, CF
Curtis Granderson, RF
David Wright, 3B
David Murphy, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, LF
Juan Uribe, 2B
Ruben Tejada, SS
Anthony Recker, C

Noah Syndergaard, RHP (8-6, 3.19 ERA)

Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images