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David Ortiz could be held out of the lineup the rest of the way

David Ortiz

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz raises his arms and looks upward as he crosses home plate after a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park in Boston, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

AP

David Ortiz was out of the starting lineup tonight for the third time in the last six games and Red Sox acting manager Torey Lovullo indicated to Ian Browne of MLB.com that the veteran slugger might be held out of action the rest of the way.

“Some general soreness, the body is tired,” said Lovullo. “He’s had a really, really good season. And I don’t want to put him in a situation where he’s going to run up against an injury, out of fairness to him.”

Ortiz started 49 out of 52 games while he was chasing down 500 home runs. With the Red Sox out of things, there’s no incentive to push him any further. If Ortiz does make an appearance this weekend against the Indians, he likely won’t play a full game.

After getting off to a slow start this season, Ortiz is batting .272 with 36 home runs and a .905 OPS. He has his most home runs in a season since 2006 and his most RBI (105) since 2007. Not bad for a guy who turns 40 next month.

Ortiz reached 600 plate appearances last weekend, so he’s officially owed $16 million as part of a vesting option for 2016.

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