Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
Odds by

World Series, Game 3: Red Sox-Cardinals lineups

World Series Red Sox Cardinals Baseball

Grounds crew workers prepare the field before a baseball practice, Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, in St. Louis. The St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox are set to play Game 3 of the World Series on Saturday in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

AP

Lineups for Game 3 of the World Series at Busch Stadium ...

Red Sox:
CF Jacoby Ellsbury
RF Shane Victorino
2B Dustin Pedroia
1B David Ortiz
LF Daniel Nava
3B Xander Bogaerts
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
SS Stephen Drew
SP Jake Peavy

As expected, David Ortiz is making the start at first base while Mike Napoli is on the bench with the designated hitter unavailable under National League rules. It hurts to sit Napoli, but the Red Sox can’t afford to be without Ortiz right now. The veteran slugger has five homers in 13 games this postseason, including one in each of the first two games of the World Series. The other notable changes include Daniel Nava in left field over Jonny Gomes and Xander Bogaerts being moved up to the No. 6 spot in the order. Stephen Drew remains in the lineup despite hitting just .095 (4-for-42) with a 15/1 K/BB ratio this postseason.

Cardinals:
2B Matt Carpenter
RF Carlos Beltran
LF Matt Holliday
1B Matt Adams
C Yadier Molina
3B David Freese
CF Jon Jay
SS Pete Kozma
SP Joe Kelly

No designated hitter means that Allen Craig will be on the bench to begin Game 3. He has taken some ground balls at first base in recent days, but the Cardinals don’t want to rush him back into the field and cause a setback with his foot. Carlos Beltran is in the lineup after he went 2-for-4 with an RBI single Thursday in his return from a severe rib contusion. Meanwhile, Pete Kozma is back in the lineup after Daniel Descalso made the start at shortstop in Game 2.

Follow @djshort