It's been three months since the Red Sox had Jacoby Ellsbury in the lineup. Finally, they'll have him back, as the center fielder leads off against Jeremy Hellickson and the Tampa Bay Rays. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. EST, with broadcasts on NESN, the MLB Network, and WEEI.
It was, of course, the Rays who first knocked Jacoby Ellsbury out for three months. Attempting to break up a double play, Ellsbury had Reid Brignac come down hard on his shoulder on April 13, sending him to the disabled list for the rest of the first half.
Now, on another Friday the 13th, the Sox are hoping that it will be bad luck for the Rays and an opportunity to turn their season around. With only 18 games between now and August 1st, they have little time to prove themselves worthy of further investment.
Jacoby Ellsbury is not the only returning player, however. Will Middlebrooks will also be making his way back into the lineup after being held out of the last two series with a nagging hamstring injury. He'll bat fifth and play third, sending Mauro Gomez back to the bench. The Sox may miss his bat (though perhaps not in comparison to Middlebrooks), but it will be good to feel safer defensively at the hot corner.
Boston Red Sox (43-43)
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Daniel Nava, LF
- David Ortiz, DH
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Will Middlebrooks, 3B
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
- Ryan Sweeney, RF
- Mike Aviles, SS
- Pedro Ciriaco, 2B
Tampa Bay Rays (45-41)
- Elliot Johnson, SS
- Carlos Pena, 1B
- Ben Zobrist, RF
- B.J. Upton, CF
- Jeff Keppinger, 2B
- Sean Rodriguez, 3B
- Luke Scott, DH
- Desmond Jennings, LF
- Jose Lobaton, C
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