Jacoby Ellsbury is, as promised, back in the lineup and leading off as the Red Sox try to split their series against the Rockies.
Boston Red Sox (95-63)
- Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
- Shane Victorino, RF
- Dustin Pedroia, 2B
- David Ortiz, 1B
- Daniel Nava, LF
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
- Stephen Drew, SS
- Will Middlebrooks, 3B
- Jake Peavy, P
Colorado Rockies (72-86)
- Charlie Blackmon, CF
- Josh Rutledge, 2B
- Troy Tulowitzki, SS
- Michael Cuddyer, RF
- Todd Helton, 1B
- Nolan Arenado, 3B
- Corey Dickerson, LF
- Yorvit Torrealba, C
- Jhoulys Chacin, P
Now that looks about right. Or as right as a National League lineup can ever get for an American League team, I suppose. From 1-to-8 the only man missing is Mike Napoli, the victim to the awful NL shortcoming.
Just how much we'll see of Ellsbury is up in the air, of course. The Red Sox likely aren't going to push him for a full game right away. But he'll get at bats, get some defensive innings in, and be ready to push ahead into that last series of the year in Baltimore.
Speaking of that last series, the Red Sox could make it much easier on themselves with a win tonight. The Athletics have already lost, putting the Red Sox one win away from boosting their lead to two games with three left to play. It's not at all an impossible lead to drop, but that's a magic number of two.