David Price will have a new battery mate for the Boston Red Sox’s crucial series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bryan Holaday, whom the Red Sox claimed off waivers Friday, will make his first start in a Boston uniform Sunday, batting seventh and catching Price at Dodger Stadium.
It’s a pivotal game for both Price and the Red Sox, who have lost each of the left-handed ace’s last four starts but could finish 6-5 on their 11-game road trip with a win over the Dodgers on Sunday.
Boston will benefit from the return of second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who missed Saturday’s 3-0 loss after fouling a ball off his lower left leg Friday night. Pedroia will bat cleanup and center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. will bat second in a bit of a lineup shuffle for the Red Sox.
Hanley Ramirez and David Ortiz both are out of the lineup, as Travis Shaw will start at first base batting fifth while Brock Holt will man third base and bat sixth. Andrew Benintendi gets the call in left field for his third career start in the majors.
The Red Sox will face a right-hander in the Dodgers’ Brandon McCarthy, as scheduled starter Rich Hill was scratched due to a blister in his pitching hand.
Here are the full lineups for Sunday’s series finale:
RED SOX (60-49)
Mookie Betts, RF
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Travis Shaw, 1B
Brock Holt, 3B
Bryan Holaday, C
Andrew Benintendi, LF
David Price, LHP (9-7, 4.30 ERA)
DODGERSÂ (61-49)
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Kyle Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Enrique Hernandez, CF
Josh Reddick, RF
Yasmani Grandal, C
Rob Segedin, LF
Brandon McCarthy, RHP (2-2, 2.76 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Raymond Carlin III/USA TODAY Sports Images
