Red Sox: Pedroia set to start rehab stint on Thursday, Nunez DHs for Pawtucket

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The Boston Red Sox' injury list has been loaded at the second base position this year. The team's three second basemen/infield bench options who were supposed to carry the team at the position are all on the IL. And the biggest name of the bunch is Dustin Pedroia.

Pedroia, who started the season on the IL before playing six games and posting a .100 average, is getting ready to have another rehab stint after he tweaked his troublesome knee against the New York Yankees. He will be playing with the team's Double-A affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs, starting on Thursday. But Alex Cora was non-committal on how long it would take him to return.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Cora said per Chris Cotillo of MassLive. “He hasn’t played in a while. He needs at-bats. He needs to play.”

But Pedroia isn't hoping to take long and was getting in work on the field ahead of Monday's game against the Oakland Athletics, per Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe.

That, at the very least, is an encouraging sign.

There are also some updates to report on the other infielders the Red Sox have on the IL.

Eduardo Nunez, who is dealing with a back injury, returned to action on Monday night. In a rehab stint with the Pawtucket Red Sox, Nunez went 0-4 as the team's designated hitter. He will also get work in the field and Cora is looking to get him about 20 plate appearances before rejoining the team, per Julian Benbow of The Boston Globe.

Meanwhile, Brock Holt, who has been on the IL since the first week of the season, suffered a shoulder injury in his latest rehab assignment. The utility man will remain on the IL and will attempt to make a comeback once the shoulder issue heals.

Until these infielders return, Michael Chavis and Tzu-Wei Lin will continue to hold down the fort at second base. Chavis has been a major upgrade for the team's offense, as he has hit three homers in eight games since being called up, so the top prospect may remain even after these players return.

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