Red Sox vs. Rangers lineups: Another day without Jacoby Ellsbury

While earlier projections suggested that Jacoby Ellsbury could find his way back into the lineup for the series against the Rangers, the first game is here, and he's nowhere to be found.

Boston Red Sox (35-23)

1. Daniel Nava, RF
2. Mike Carp, LF
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Mike Napoli, 1B
6. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
7. Stephen Drew, SS
8. Jose Iglesias, 3B
9. Jackie Bradley Jr., CF

Starting Pitcher -- Ryan Dempster

Texas Rangers (35-21)

1. Elvis Andrus, SS
2. David Murphy, LF
3. Lance Berkman, DH
4. Nelson Cruz, RF
5. Mitch Moreland, 1B
6. A.J. Pierzynski, C
7. Jeff Baker, 3B
8. Jurickson Profar, 2B
9. Leonys Martin, CF

Starting Pitcher -- Justin Grimm

The Red Sox were able to get the job done against the Yankees despite Ellsbury's absence, taking the series two games to one. But the Rangers...the Rangers represent a bit of a bogeyman for this Red Sox team. The Rangers are the ones who so thoroughly dominated the Red Sox back when they were on a roll heading into May. The Rangers are the ones who kicked off the prolonged, frustrating slump that stands out as a black mark on an otherwise excellent season.

Hopefully Fenway Park proves different. Hopefully Ryan Dempster manages to take his last outing of two runs in seven innings--sketchy though they may have been--and turn it into some momentum. Hopefully Justin Grimm does not play that role of unfamiliar rookie dominating the Red Sox. Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully.

Until the Red Sox actually win this game, though, all that hope will be tempered by the memory of the last series and what it started.

Read more Red Sox:

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• Daniel Nava: All-Star candidate?
• MLB Draft 2013: Who could the Red Sox pick at #7?
• Red Sox' Dustin Pedroia has full UCL tear
• Is John Lackey really back?