BOSTON - Brock Holt, who was scratched an hour before game-time Saturday with a strained oblique muscle, remained out of the lineup Sunday but is expected back on the field Monday when the Red Sox begin a six-game road trip.
"Brock's doing OK,'' offered interim manager Torey Lovullo. "Still a little nicked up. His left oblique is giving him some problems, but he is available today, if needed, in an emergency situation. And we're looking to get him into the lineup (Monday).
"I had a good discussion with Brock this morning where we just felt like it was best to give him one more day, give him a blow, get ahead of it and see where he's at (Monday).''
Lovullo said the oblique injury wasn't the result of an isolated play or movement.
"I don't think so,'' he said. "I think it just started off with some overall fatigue, just getting warn down. Whether it was one play or not, I don't know.''
Holt has, for the second straight season, seen his second half performance drop off and the Sox are aware of that trend.
"It's been on our radar that he's had a history of wearing down,'' said Lovullo. "But I think, overall, you just have to look at the guy overall and the productivity and what he means to the ballclub. Whether he's tired or not, he has such great value to the team and we're going to find a spot for him in the right situation.
Boston Red Sox
Find the latest Boston Red Sox news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Boston.
"What can he do (to change that)? I don't know if he can work any harder behind the scenes. He's a very caring guy. He understands what he means to this team and he wants to stay healthy. Whether he tweaks his off-season program, I'm not sure. But I think in time, we're going to find a guy who's consistent throughout the year, heath-wise.''
With Holt out of the lineup, Josh Rutledge was the Red Sox starter at second base.