The Boston Red Sox have caught fire to pad their division lead, and they’re using that recent success to get some everyday players off their feet.
Xander Bogaerts will take a seat Thursday night for the Red Sox’s series finale against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, with Brock Holt taking his place at shortstop and batting second. Bogaerts has played in all but four of Boston’s games this season, second-most on the team behind Mookie Betts, who has missed three.
The Red Sox have taken the first three games of the series and are on a seven-game winning streak, which has expanded their American League East lead to five games over the Toronto Blue Jays and six games over the Orioles.
Hanley Ramirez returns to the lineup playing first base after getting Wednesday off. A few players will shuffle spots in the batting order, as Jackie Bradley Jr. will bat seventh while Sandy Leon drops down to eighth.
David Price will start for Boston in a battle of aces against Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman. The Red Sox have won each of Price’s last eight starts, and he hasn’t lost a decision since Aug. 7.
Here are the lineups for Thursday’s series finale:
RED SOX (88-64)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Brock Holt, SS
Mookie Betts, RF
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, 1B
Travis Shaw, 3B
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Sandy Leon, C
Andrew Benintendi, LF
David Price, LHP (16-8, 3.91 ERA)
ORIOLESÂ (82-70)
Adam Jones, CF
Chris Davis, 1B
Manny Machado, 3B
Mark Trumbo, RF
Trey Mancini, DH
Jonathan Schoop, 2B
J.J. Hardy, SS
Drew Stubbs, LF
Caleb Joseph, C
Chris Tillman, RHP (16-6, 3.72 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports Images
