The Red Sox can only hope to avoid a sweep as they send Clay Buchholz to the mound Thursday night against the Baltimore Orioles. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. EST with broadcasts on NESN, the MLB Network, and WEEI.
Jacoby Ellsbury will get a half-day off for the Red Sox as he slots into the DH spot with David Ortiz still missing a full month after injuring himself rounding the basepaths. The Sox have been contorting themselves every-which-way to fill in for their missing slugger, but the absence of their best hitter has been sorely felt.
Mike Aviles, meanwhile, will get the full night off, with Pedro Ciriaco batting eighth and playing shortstop while Nick Punto continues on at third. Scott Podsednik will bring up the tail end of the order as he takes over for Jacoby Ellsbury in center field.
Boston Red Sox (57-61)
- Jacoby Ellsbury, DH
- Carl Crawford, LF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Cody Ross, RF
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
- Nick Punto, 3B
- Pedro Ciriaco, SS
- Scott Podsednik, CF
Baltimore Orioles (64-53)
- Nick Markakis, RF
- J.J. Hardy, SS
- Nate McLouth, LF
- Adam Jones, CF
- Matt Wieters, C
- Chris Davis, DH
- Mark Reynolds, 1B
- Manny Machado, 3B
- Omar Quintanilla, 2B
Read more on the Red Sox at Over the Monster and SB Nation Boston. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.