Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia is returning http://www.dolphinsshopnfl.com/Authentic-Jason-Fox-Jersey to the lineup Friday night after a 15-game absence due to a strained right hamstring.
Pedroia will bat second in the order against the Los Angeles Angels, in front of shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who replaced Pedroia in the 3-hole and made the most of the opportunity, posting a .348/.375/.449/.824 slash line with seven doubles and 13 RBIs in 16 games.
Manager John Farrell also cited Bogaerts' production with runners in scoring position -- a team-best .392 batting average and .944 OPS -- as a factor in leaving him in the No. 3 spot.
"Pedey has been anywhere from 1, 2 or 3 this year," Farrell said. "Bogie has obviously excelled with men in scoring position. If this is an opportunity to maybe live out those same opportunities, that's where it may be."
All-Star Brock Holt, who had filled Blaine Gabbert Womens Jersey in for Pedroia at second base, was not in Friday's lineup and will return to playing a variety of positions. That presumably will include first base, perhaps as soon as Saturday night, when the Angels are scheduled to start Garrett Richards, the only right-handed starter they are scheduled to use in this four-game set. Mike Napoli will draw the start against the three lefties, Farrell said.
"If we're in a lineup with Brock in there, along with Pedey and Bogie, that might be a completely different look as well," Farrell said.
Pedroia was swinging a hot bat in June before he was hurt, posting a slash line of .350/.402/.500/.902 with six doubles and two home runs in the 19 games he played that month.
This was the first hamstring injury Pedroia has ever had. Farrell was asked if Pedroia was back to every-day status.
"It was a pretty significant http://www.officialauthentic49ersstore.com/Authentic-Colin-Kaepernick-Jersey hamstring injury," Farrell said. "I think in Pedey's mind, coming back he is of the thought he will go every day. That's the way he is wired, as we know. But I think we've got to be a little cognizant, too, that if there is a day in which it's best to give him a day of rest and recovery, when the action is picked back up, we'll see as we go."