Red Sox vs. Yankees lineups: Ortiz, Leon get the day off

David Ortiz has already started his last game against the Yankees in Fenway Park. The designated hitter has been given the day off as the Sox try to complete the sweep of their rivals.

As the Sox have done often before, they’re getting multiple days off in during the same game, with Sandy Leon also missing from the lineup (in a Drew Pomeranz start, too, as has become the trend).

Just because they’re down a couple of bats doesn’t mean they’re punting this one, though. Aaron Hill has actually hit a bit better of late, and while Chris Young would never claim to be the equal of David Ortiz, he slots in nicely as the no. 5 hitter behind the red-hot Ramirez against lefties. The only Red Sox batter with better numbers against lefties this season is...

Well, Sandy Leon. So that’s imperfect timing, I suppose.

With or without Ortiz and Leon, though, this is an entirely winnable matchup against Sabathia and a Yankees team that has to be awfully dispirited after having been dropped to four games back in the wild card by the Red Sox these past few games. Having pretty much dashed their October hopes already, the Sox are just looking to add insult to injury here—and of course solidify their own position atop the East—with the sweep.

First pitch is at 8:08 p.m. (or, more likely, 8:10 p.m. the way these things work) with broadcasts on ESPN and WEEI.