The Red Sox and Orioles are set to kick off a three-game weekend set Friday night as the birds make a last push at the AL East crown. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. EST with broadcasts on NESN and WEEI.
For the second straight game, the Sox will be without Jacoby Ellsbury in the starting lineup as he deals with what Bobby Valentine will only describe as an injury "situation". He might have been in today were it not for the fact that he had to be brought off the bench halfway through Thursday's game to cover for the woeful failure of the Pedro Ciriaco in center experiment.
This time it will be Scott Podsednik filling in, which should hopefully allow for fewer free doubles courtesy of the Boston defense. No guarantees, though.
Boston Red Sox (68-83)
- Pedro Ciriaco, 3B
- Scott Podsednik, CF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Cody Ross, RF
- Ryan Lavarnway, C
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, DH
- James Loney, 1B
- Daniel Nava, LF
- Jose Iglesias, SS
Baltimore Orioles (85-64)
- Nate McLouth, LF
- J.J. Hardy, SS
- Adam Jones, CF
- Matt Wieters, C
- Mark Reynolds, 1B
- Lew Ford, DH
- Manny Machado, 3B
- Endy Chavez, RF
- Robert Andino, 2B