BOSTON -- Though the season will be chock full of final moments for David Ortiz, Monday was not one of them as the retiring Red Sox slugger was not part of Patriots' Day starting lineup for Boston.
With the team facing its first left-handed starter of the season in the Blue Jays' J.A. Happ, coupled with a four-game series that included four different start times -- including Monday's 11:05 a.m. ET game -- the time was right for a rest.
"[I] had a chance to talk with David before this series opened up," manager John Farrell said.