Red Sox bench Verdugo for lack of hustle

Boston Red Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo will not start Thursday's game against the Cleveland Guardians after he displayed a lack of hustle and was removed from Wednesday's contest, manager Alex Cora said, according to MLB.com's Ian Browne.

Verdugo was benched on Wednesday following a play in the seventh inning in which he slowed up and looked back at first base during a force play at second with two outs.

Had he been safe, potential tying runs would have been aboard in a game the Red Sox lost 5-2.

Masataka Yoshida, Jarren Duran, and Rob Refsnyder are starting in the outfield, with Justin Turner starting at DH for Thursday's game.

Verdugo is in the midst of a strong campaign with the Red Sox, hitting .286/.364/.450 with 19 doubles and 24 RBIs.

Boston, however, is slumping, having lost seven of its last 10 games and sitting last in the AL East.