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Cody Ross is back, hitting seventh and playing left field against Mark Buehrle and the Miami Marlins Tuesday night.
The Red Sox have been without Ross for a month now, and while the likes of Daniel Nava and Scott Podsednik have filled in admirably, with Nava's hand and Podsednik dealing with a groin pull--and on the disabled list as of one second ago--the Sox will be happy to have their big-swinging lefty masher back in action. Ross had been hitting an impressive .271/.349/.534 before going on the disabled list, with a .987 OPS against left-handed pitchers like Buehrle.
Ross is hardly the only one in the lineup to take it to the southpaw, however. Mike Aviles is up to the leadoff spot to take advantage of his heavy splits, while the return to the American League will allow the Sox to play both Kevin Youkilis and Will Middlebrooks without sacrificing David Ortiz in return. Adrian Gonzalez, back from his first game off, will stay in right field to facilitate having both righties in.