Hamstring continuing to bother Pedroia

BOSTON -- Dustin Pedroia was not in the Red Sox's starting lineup on Friday for the opener of a three-game series against the Tigers at Fenway Park due to soreness in his right hamstring.

The second baseman returned from a right hamstring injury last Friday and played six of seven games during Boston's recent road trip, going 1-for-22. He got a scheduled breather in Houston on Thursday, but manager John Farrell determined Pedroia would need at least one more day to recover.

"He's still feeling it a little bit in the hamstring," Farrell said. "Yesterday was a planned off-day, and coming out of that he still feels some of the same symptoms -- not to the severity, obviously, that he went on the DL with. There's still a bit of soreness in the hamstring and we're being cautious right now."

Farrell noted that Pedroia's soreness could not be traced to a specific play on the road trip.

"Him being out of the lineup today is not the result of a singular event that has intensified his feeling, it's more just the accumulation of innings played," Farrell said.

Pedroia was placed on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring on June 25 and missed the final 16 games before the All-Star break. Entering Friday, he was batting .287 with nine home runs, 34 RBIs and a .774 OPS.

Designated hitter David Ortiz was also absent from the Red Sox's lineup on Friday.

"David's a little bit sore, but this is his scheduled off-day as we've rotated other guys through, as well," Farrell said.