BOSTON — The Red Sox have just three regular-season games left to play, and they’re trotting out a new lineup for the occasion.
Boston’s starters will be back on the field for Friday night’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, but there will be a new batting order for the opener of the three-game series at Fenway Park. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts will bat sixth, while third baseman Brock Holt will hit out of Bogaerts’ usual No. 2 spot.
“I just feel like — and this isn’t centered around Xander, even though he’s the one that’s moving down a little bit,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said Friday. “This is to try to create a little bit of a spark for us offensively because we’ve been grinding a little bit. And also to create a little bit of balance up and down the lineup a little bit more. We’re soon to get out of an expanded roster, so maybe to create a little bit more balance, that’s where today’s lineup is reflective of it.”
David Ortiz also will remain in the cleanup spot, while right fielder Mookie Betts will bat third.
Rick Porcello will start for Boston as the club looks to bounce back from a three-game skid. The right-hander could be the right man for the job, too, as he’s 13-1 at Fenway Park and has been lights-out all season. Porcello gave up just two runs over seven innings in his last start against the Blue Jays on Sept. 9.
Here are the Red Sox’s and Blue Jays’ lineups for Friday’s game.
RED SOX (92-67)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Brock Holt, 3B
Mookie Betts, RF
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Sandy Leon, C
Andrew Benintendi, LF
Rick Porcello, RHP (22-4, 3.11 ERA)
BLUE JAYS (87-72)
Ezequiel Carrera, LF
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Jose Bautista, RF
Russell Martin, C
Troy Tulowitzki, SS
Justin Smoak, 1B
Kevin Pillar, CF
Devon Travis, 2B
Marco Estrada, RHP (9-9, 3.53 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
