BOSTON — Struggling veteran Alex Bregman is batting third in Boston’s lineup Wednesday. Trevor Story will bat second.

The Red Sox and Athletics will play the second game of their three-game series at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at Fenway Park. The A’s won 2-1 on Tuesday.

This is just Bregman’s third time hitting third in 52 starts since returning from a right quad strain on July 11 that sidelined him for 43 games. All his other starts have come in the two-hole.

Bregman has only 14 hits in his past 89 at-bats (.157) in 22 games dating back to Aug. 23.

“Just to switch it up,” manager Alex Cora said when asked about hitting Bregman third. “See if this works. Kind of like give him a different at-bat. It will be the same at-bat. Probably doesn’t change but just doing that. And with Trevor, having Jarren (Duran) and Trevor back to back, hopefully we can get on base and do our thing running-wise.”

He hit in the No. 3 spot more than the No. 2 spot before his injury because Rafael Devers began the year in the two hole. Overall, Bregman has produced better stats in the three hole (.293/.379/.537/.915, 235 plate appearances) than in the two hole (.249/.327/.378/.705, 217 plate appearances) this season.

Athletics righty Mason Barnett (1-1, 8.53 ERA) will start opposite Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (10-4, 3.31 ERA).

DH Masataka Yoshida will hit cleanup.

Both right-handed hitters, Romy Gonzalez and Rob Refsnyder, are in the starting lineup. Gonzalez is hitting fifth and playing second. Refsnyder is batting sixth and playing right field.

Related: Stream the Red Sox live on NESN via FuboTV or DirecTV Stream

BOSTON RED SOX (82-69) @ ATHLETICS (67-80) · FENWAY PARK · BOSTON, MA · GAME 152

FIRST PITCH: 6:45 p.m.

TV CHANNEL: NESN

RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM

PITCHING PROBABLES: RHP Mason Barnett (1-1, 8.53 ERA) vs. RHP Lucas Giolito (10-4, 3.31 ERA)

RED SOX LINEUP:

Jarren Duran LFTrevor Story SSAlex Bregman 3BMasataka Yoshida DHRomy Gonzalez 2BRob Refsnyder RFNathaniel Lowe 1BCarlos Narváez CCeddanne Rafaela CF

ATHLETICS LINEUP:

TBA

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