BOSTON — The Red Sox are getting a little bit of pop back in their lineup Saturday night.
Hanley Ramirez tweaked his back during Wednesday’s contest against the Tampa Bay Rays, and the injury sidelined him for Friday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park. But the first baseman will be back on the field for the middle game and batting fifth.
Ramirez had a rough June like the rest of the Red Sox, batting just .229, but he’d been starting to heat up, batting .375 (9-for-24) with six runs, five RBIs and two home runs in his last seven games before the injury.
Brock Holt, who returned from the disabled list Friday after a concussion, will have the day off against Angels left-hander Hector Santiago. Bryce Brentz will start in left field and bat seventh.
Clay Buchholz will be on the bump for Boston, and he’ll try to avoid giving up a big inning, which has plagued him all season. The right-hander started just twice in June after spending most of the month in the bullpen, and he lost both games, but he has a chance to right the ship against the floundering Angels.
Here are both teams’ lineups for Saturday.
RED SOX (43-36)
Mookie Betts, RF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Bryce Brentz, LF
Travis Shaw, 3B
Christian Vazquez, C
Clay Buchholz, RHP (3-8, 5.90 ERA)
ANGELS (32-48)
Yunel Escobar, 3B
Kole Calhoun, RF
Mike Trout, CF
Albert Pujols, DH
Daniel Nava, LF
C.J. Cron, 1B
Johnny Giavotella, 2B
Carlos Perez, C
Andrelton Simmons, SS
Hector Santiago, LHP (4-4, 5.27 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
