As the Boston Red Sox look to rebound from Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, they’ll once again begin the game without both third baseman Pablo Sandoval and utility man Brock Holt.
Sandoval is “still very ill,” according to Red Sox interim manager Torey Lovullo. The 29-year-old still is battling a significant upper respiratory infection that has sidelined him all week. Lovullo said Sandoval also still is fighting a fever, and definitely will be out for at least “another day or two.”
Holt is healthy, though. Lovullo explained that he simply “wanted to have a look at Deven (Marrero) at third base,” and that Holt will see the field “a considerable amount of times” for the remainder of the season.
On the mound, Rick Porcello hopes to bounce back after his worst start since returning from the disabled list, in which he gave up eight runs (six earned) in a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Here’s a look at the starting lineups for Wednesday’s Red Sox-Rays contest.
RED SOX (72-78)
Mookie Betts, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Travis Shaw, 1B
Rusney Castillo, LF
Blake Swihart, C
Deven Marrero, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Rick Porcello, RHP (8-13, 5.16 ERA)
RAYS (73-78)
John Jaso, DH
Daniel Nava, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Steven Souza, RF
James Loney, 1B
J.P. Arencibia, C
Kevin Kiermaier, CF
Nick Franklin, 2B
Drew Smyly, LHP (3-2, 3.64 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Gregory J. Fisher/USA TODAY Sports Images
