Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi out for series finale in Seattle

The Boston Red Sox will be without left fielder Andre Benintendi for Sunday’s finale of the four-game series with the Seattle Mariners.

Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi is out of the lineup for Sunday series finale against the Seattle Mariners after fouling a ball off his right knee cap during the second inning of Saturday’s game.

Benintendi fell hard to the ground after taking the ball off his knee, but remained in the game, finishing the night 1-for-4 with a run scored in the team’s 6-5 loss to Seattle.

While likely a precautionary move by Red Sox manager Alex Cora, the Boston Herald’s Jason Mastrodonato reported Benintendi was seen limping in the clubhouse after the game.  Mastrodonato also noted that while he said the ball off his knee ‘hurt bad’, he had done that before and ‘knew he’d be OK.’

Cora has said the 24-year-old Benintendi is a possibility to come off the bench tonight, according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Cora said Benintendi is moving well, but wanted to give him the day off and does not want to push one of the team’s core players while the 2019 season is still in its infancy. Speier also reported if even if Benintendi does not play today, he is expected to be available for Monday’s game against the Oakland Athletics.

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Benintendi has enjoyed a mostly healthy start to his young career, however, he did spend a couple of weeks on the disabled list during his 2016 rookie campaign with after spraining his left knee.

For Sunday’s finale facing Seattle lefty Wade LeBlanc, J.D. Martinez takes over in left field, while Sam Travis will get the start as the team’s Designated Hitter. Steve Pearce would typically be in the lineup against a lefty but he’s still on the mend with a calf injury.

In the lineup, Mookie Betts and Rafael Devers have been pushed up in the order, batting first and second, respectively. They’ll be followed by Martinez, Xander Bogaerts in the cleanup spot, and Travis hitting fifth.

The Red Sox will look to 2016 AL Cy Young Award Winner Rick Porcello to try and even the series against Seattle before moving on to Oakland.