LOS ANGELES (WHDH) — JD Martinez, who normally serves as the designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox, will play left field Friday night in Los Angeles in place of Andrew Benintendi.
Because National League rules prohibit designated hitters and require pitchers to hit, manager Alex Cora had to make a difficult roster decision in order to fit Martinez into the lineup.
Martinez tallied three hits in seven plate appearances and batted in four runs in games 1 and 2 of the World Series at Fenway Park. Benintendi notched four hits of his own and made a spectacular leaping grab in front of the Green Monster.
Benintendi will likely be used as a late-inning defensive replacement for Martinez.
Rick Porcello will start the game for Boston.
The full lineup is as follows:
1. Betts RF
2. Bogaerts SS
3. Moreland 1B
4. Martinez LF
5. Holt 2B
6. Devers 3B
7. Bradley Jr. CF
8. Vázquez C
9. Porcello RHP
Let's keep it up! #DoDamage pic.twitter.com/ku9a9RRfqS
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 26, 2018
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