Carl Crawford Gets Night Off As Scott Podsednik Returns to Red Sox Lineup Against Indians

Scott Podsednik is back in Boston, and he'll get a chance to contribute again as early as Friday night.

The veteran outfielder, who was signed by the team just a week after being traded to Arizona, is in the Red Sox lineup for Friday night's game with the Indians. Podsednik was released shortly after being acquired by the Diamondbacks.

Podsednik, who hit .387 in 19 games in his first stint with Boston, will be inserted into the lineup in place of Carl Crawford.

Crawford, whose issues with his left elbow have been well-documented, has played in every Red Sox game since July 29. While he hit 10-for-27 in the first six games of August, he's 2-for-13 in his last three games. With left-hander Chris Seddon on the mound, it makes some sense to have Crawford take the night off.

The presence of the left-handed Seddon also means a night off for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who suffered his 10th three-strikeout game Thursday night. Kelly Shoppach will slide into the catching spot, with Ryan Lavarnway getting the start at designated hitter.

Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Mike Aviles, SS
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Cody Ross, RF
Will Middlebrooks, 3B
Ryan Lavarnway, DH
Kelly Shoppach, C
Scott Podsednik, LF

Clay Buchholz, P

Indians
Ezequiel Carrera,  LF
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Shin-Soo Choo, RF
Carlos Santana, C
Michael Brantley, CF
Shelley Duncan, DH
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Jack Hannahan, 3B
Jason Donald, 2B

Chris Seddon, P