Panda day to day with bruised left knee

BOSTON -- As expected, third baseman Pablo Sandoval was absent from the Red Sox's starting lineup Wednesday with a bone bruise after getting drilled on his left knee during Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Rangers.

The team did not make him available for Wednesday's game, citing lingering soreness, but manager John Farrell said Sandoval could return to the hot corner in the next couple of days.

"We'll probably keep him off his feet and continue to get treatment throughout the game. He's day to day at this point," Farrell said.

Sandoval avoided a serious injury when a 94-mph fastball from reliever Sam Freeman struck him on the side of his left knee in the seventh inning.

"He took it on the outside of the left knee," Farrell said. "It was not on the kneecap, which is a fortunate thing. Not a whole lot of swelling."

Utility infielder Brock Holt is expected to receive the bulk of the playing time while Sandoval recovers. Backup catcher Sandy Leon, who played one inning of third base as a defensive replacement on April 12, was also seen taking ground balls during batting practice on Wednesday. First baseman Mike Napoli moved up to fifth in the batting order.

Sandoval was one of the only Red Sox regulars whose bat did not fall silent on the club's recent 10-game road trip. Though he went just 7-for-37, he hit three home runs and a double while recording four RBIs, and the Red Sox could certainly use his presence sooner rather than later.

"I want to play," Sandoval said on Tuesday night. "I don't know what the situation [will be]."