Mookie Betts is out for the sixth game in a row and Dustin Pedroia, who was a late scratch Thursday, is also sitting out the second game of the Red Sox' four-game weekend series in Houston.
Betts the major leagues’ leading hitter at .359, has been bothered by soreness in his left side and hasn’t played since Saturday. Pedroia, coming back from October knee surgery, came out of the lineup before game time Thursday with knee soreness. He’s 1-for-11 in three games since debuting Saturday after going 1-for-15 in a rehab stint at Triple-A Pawtucket.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday he doesn't regret not putting Betts on the 10-day DL.
Andrew Benintendi is again in Betts’ leadoff spot and playing left field. J.D. Martinez is in right, Eduardo Nunez is the DH and Brock Holt takes Pedroia’s spot at second. Sox lefty ace opposes Astros righty Gerrit Cole, the top two strikeout pitchers in the American League (Cole 109, Sale 104).
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