Pedroia Moves To Leadoff, Betts Slides To Third For Red Sox Vs. Yankees
BOSTON (CBS) -- Manager John Farrell is making some changes atop the Red Sox lineup.
After two days of rest, Xander Bogaerts is back in the lineup, but not in his normal spot at No. 3. Instead, that spot will be occupied by Mookie Betts. As a result, Dustin Pedroia will slide out of his normal two hole and up to the leadoff spot, with Bogaerts taking Pedroia's normal spot at second in the order.
Pedroia's always been a versatile hitter capable of batting up and down the order, and in his career he has started in the leadoff spot 138 times. In 645 plate appearances, he owns a .279 average, .341 on-base percentage and a .753 OPS. This season, he's worked almost exclusively as the No. 2 hitter in the lineup.
Betts, meanwhile, has been the best leadoff hitter in the American League. Yet with Bogaerts in a bit of a mini-slump (.143 BA in August), Farrell moved Betts and his power bat down in an effort to drive in more runs. They're averaging 3.6 runs per game in August, down from their overall average of 5.4 runs per game on the season.
Rookie Andrew Benintendi, who's swung a hot bat in his first big league action this week, is once again in the starting lineup, batting ninth.
1. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
2. Xander Bogaerts, SS
3. Mookie Betts, RF
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Hanley Ramirez, 1B
6. Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
7. Travis Shaw, 3B
8. Sandy Leon, C
9. Andrew Benintendi, LF
SP: Drew Pomeranz
