Red Sox flu tolls lineup again, Betts and Ramirez out Friday

The flu claimed two more Boston Red Sox victims, with Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez out of Friday lineup.

The Red Sox clubhouse has been hit by the flu once again. The Friday lineup will be without 2016 MVP runner-up Mookie Betts and 1B/DH Hanley Ramirez due to flu-like symptoms. Set to step in for the sickly duo are Chris Young in right and Brock Holt at designated hitter.

The Red Sox already penciled shortstop Xander Bogaerts out of the lineup, who they placed on the three-day bereavement list prior to their weekend series against the Tigers. Marco Hernandez is set to fill-in at shortstop for the Friday contest.

The flu has been an ongoing story during the opening week for Boston. So much so, the Red Sox placed Robbie Ross on the 10-day disabled list on Thursday retroactive to April 3. Holt, who is in today’s lineup, suffered from flu-like symptoms on Wednesday and did not play.

The Boston front office and coaching staff are perplexed by the plague, as well.

The outbreak has puzzled just about everyone in the organization, including Manager John Farrell who said its a situation that is unprecedented.

"“We were a little more susceptible to it,” said Farrell, the pitching coach on that Red Sox team. “The severity of it and the widespread nature of this, it’s pretty unique.”"

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Boston faces 2016 Rookie of the Year, Michael Fulmer, in the series opener against Detroit. Two weather postponements set up a matchup of former Cy Young winners for the Series finale on Monday. Justin Verlander will get the start for the Tigers and Chris Sale is scheduled to take the mound for Boston, but that is only if the outbreak cooperates.