MLB odds: David Ortiz back with Boston on Friday

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

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Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz finished a six-game minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday night and will be back in the Boston lineup Friday against the hated Yankees.

Ortiz has been on the disabled list for nearly two months with a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist.

“It feels good,” said Ortiz of his wrist. “I’m not afraid to go against nobody now but before I started playing I definitely was. I didn’t know what my reaction was going to be, but once I started swinging everything has been good.

“I’m not going to tell you I’m 100 percent because I know I won’t be 100 percent when I’m playing this year. There are some little things I’ll have to deal with, which is what the doctor told me, but otherwise I’m not afraid to let it go.”

His final minor league numbers were modest: 5 for 17 (.294) with 3 home runs, 6 RBIs, 5 walks, and 3 strikeouts.

"I'm very excited," he said. "I've been out for a while, and to rejoin the big club, that's what I want to do. That's why I'm here. And try to help."

The one positive for Ortiz being sidelined for so long was that in addition to his wrist healing, his surgically-repaired right knee also feels better.

“I just want to make sure of everything I do as a hitter," he said. "That my hands wouldn't bother me. Everything's fine. Everything's been going well."

Big Papi was hitting .252 with 13 homers in 54 big league games. He returns just in time for crunch time, as the Red Sox trail the Tampa Bay Rays by a half-game in the American League East (entering Thursday) and lead the Yankees by three games.

 

The Yanks have won six straight to climb back into the race.

“Look how they're playing now," said Ortiz. "Dude, I've been dealing with these guys for years. These guys were in a worse situation last year than this year. They were 10 games out of first place in the first half of the season. And what happened? They were in the playoffs.”

The pitching matchup for the opener on Friday is stellar, with Boston’s Josh Beckett (9-6, 3.98 ERA) facing New York’s Joba Chamberlain (2-2, 2.52 ERA).

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