Those in attendance Saturday at Dodger Stadium will witness a pretty uncommon sight.
David Ortiz will play the field for the first time this season, getting the start at first base and batting fourth for the second game of the Boston Red Sox’s series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s Ortiz’s first start at the position since Aug. 30, 2015.
The Red Sox have just one road series remaining against a National League club — the San Diego Padres on Sept. 5-7 — so if he sits out those three games and Boston doesn’t reach the World Series, Saturday could mark his final career appearance as a position player.
Judging by Ortiz’s recent numbers as a first baseman, however, they might want to give him another shot: The 40-year-old has hit five home runs in his last five starts at first base and is 9-for-17 in those contests with eight RBIs.
Dustin Pedroia will sit out Saturday after leaving Friday’s game with a lower left leg injury; Brock Holt will start at second base and bat second.
Rookie Andrew Benintendi is back in the lineup playing left field and batting eighth, while Sandy Leon will bat sixth and do the catching for Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who will hit ninth.
Here are the full lineups for Saturday’s contest:
RED SOX (60-48)
Mookie Betts, RF
Brock Holt, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, 1B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Sandy Leon, C
Travis Shaw, 3B
Andrew Benintendi, LF
Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP (2-4, 5.91 ERA)
DODGERSÂ (60-49)
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Kyle Seager, SS
Justin Turner, 3B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Enrique Hernandez, CF
Josh Reddick, RF
Scott Van Slyke, LF
A.J. Ellis, C
Ross Stripling, RHP (2-3, 4.14 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Frank Victores/USA TODAY Sports Images
