The Red Sox will be without the services of Carl Crawford and Will Middlebrooks as they try to salvage a game from a lost series against the Blue Jays Sunday afternoon. First pitch is at 1:35 p.m. EST with broadcasts on NESN and WEEI.
It's an inopportune time to be without a pair of starters. Having lost the first two games of the series, producing precious little in the way of offense, the Sox can ill-afford to head into their series against the Rangers and Yankees at .500 having been swept by the Blue Jays. This was where they were supposed to build their cushion. Instead they might just be digging their own grave.
The Sox will have Jacoby Ellsbury back in the lineup to make up for the losses, and Daniel Nava has been a strong replacement against righties, but having Nick Punto at third is cold comfort, and the way things are going right now, the Sox are going to want to put all the offense they can get behind Jon Lester.
Boston Red Sox (48-47)
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Daniel Nava, LF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
- Cody Ross, DH
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
- Ryan Sweeney, RF
- Mike Aviles, SS
- Nick Punto, 3B
Toronto Blue Jays (47-47)
- Brett Lawrie, 3B
- Yunel Escobar, SS
- Colby Rasmus, CF
- Edwin Encarnacion, 1B
- J.P. Arencibia, DH
- Rajai Davis, RF
- Travis Snider, LF
- Jeff Mathis, C
- Omar Vizquel, 2B
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