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The Dodgers are going with their new regular lineup against the Red Sox in Friday night's series opener at Dodger Stadium.
Well, at least the normal against right-handed pitching. Newcomer Josh Reddick bats cleanup and plays right field. His left-handed bat gives the Dodgers six left-handers and one switch-hitter among their eight starting position players, which will have been the case in the three games against a right-handed pitcher since the non-waiver trade deadline.
Reddick is 0-for-8 with a walk since joining the Dodgers, and Friday is his first home game with his new team. He is the only active Dodger to have faced Red Sox starter Steven Wright, going 4-for-6 with a double against the knuckleballer.
"Being left-handed leaning can be of some benefit in this division. We do have some right-handed bench bats who can spell some guys and create a different look for the lineup," general manager Farhan Zaidi said on Monday. "What we were looking for more than anything was guys who can help us impact the division race. We weren't too concerned with handedness."
The Dodgers as a team this season are hitting .253/.325/.415 against right-handed pitching in 2016, fifth in the National League in OPS (.740), third in wOBA (.319) and tied for third in wRC+ (101).
As expected, no David Ortiz in the Red Sox lineup, with Hanley Ramirez starting at first base.