The Red Sox will go middle-infield heavy Thursday night against Ubaldo Jimenez, and it's arguably for purposes of offense.

Where Ryan Lavarnway and Ryan Kalish have struggled, Pedro Ciriaco has been performing very well in his limited time with the Red Sox. Still, playing time has been hard to come by since the usual duo of Pedroia and Aviles have gotten healthy, leaving Ciriaco with just five at bats in the last six games.

The solution tonight is to move Dustin Pedroia to the DH spot, allowing all three middle infielders to get into the lineup. The question is whether this is more about getting Pedroia something of a half-day, or about getting Pedro Ciriaco some time in the lineup.

Either way, it's the only hitch in an otherwise typical Red Sox lineup against the right-handed Ubaldo Jimenez.