BOSTON — The Red Sox are going to have to finish off the Kansas City Royals without their leadoff guy.
Dustin Pedroia is out of Boston’s lineup Sunday due to a death in his family. However, Red Sox manager John Farrell said the red-hot second baseman didn’t go to the bereavement list because he plans to return to Fenway Park some time after the start of Monday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. In the meantime, Brock Holt will lead off and start at second base Sunday, while Chris Young will start in left field and bat seventh.
Eduardo Rodriguez is on the bump for the Red Sox after missing his last outing due to hamstring tightness. The southpaw was pulled from the last start he made against the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 16, but he held the O’s hitless for four innings.
Here are the lineups for Sunday night’s game.
RED SOX (72-57)
Brock Holt, 2B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
David Ortiz, DH
Mookie Betts, RF
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Travis Shaw, 3B
Chris Young, LF
Sandy Leon, C
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP (2-5, 5.11 ERA)
ROYALS (67-62)
Paulo Orlando, CF
Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B
Lorenzo Cain, RF
Eric Hosmer, 1B
Kendrys Morales, DH
Salvador Perez, C
ALex Gordon, LF
Alcides Escobar, SS
Raul Mondesi, 2B
Yordano Ventura, RHP (9-9, 4.27 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
