Mookie Betts Given Day Off; Jackie Bradley Jr. Slides Into Red Sox’s Leadoff Spot

BOSTON — Jackie Bradley Jr. won’t have to wait very long to try to extend his hitting streak Thursday night.

The Red Sox center fielder is leading off against the Colorado Rockies, as right fielder Mookie Betts will take his first day off this season. Boston manager John Farrell said Thursday that it’s just a routine day of rest for Betts, and Bradley will go back to his usual spot farther down in the order after Thursday’s game.

Chris Young will shift over to right field and bat seventh, while Blake Swihart will start in left field and bat eighth. Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts are back in their Nos. 2 and 3 spots, respectively, after they both exited Wednesday’s 10-3 win with injuries.

Clay Buchholz will be out to prove his worth when he takes the mound. The right-hander has sputtered to a 2-4 record and 5.92 ERA this season, so he’ll look to give the Red Sox a sweep and make a good impression on the Fenway faithful.

Here are both teams’ lineups for Thursday.

RED SOX (29-17)
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Travis Shaw, 3B
Chris Young, RF
Blake Swihart, LF
Christian Vazquez, C

Clay Buchholz, RHP (2-4, 5.92)

ROCKIES (21-24)
Charlie Blackmon, CF
DJ LeMahieu, 2B
Nolan Arenado, 3B
Carlos Gonzalez, RF
Mark Reynolds, 1B
Gerardo Parra, LF
Trevor Story, SS
Daniel Descalso, DH
Dustin Garneau, C

Jon Gray, RHP (1-2, 6.75 ERA)

Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images