MINNEAPOLIS — It’s not unusual for a starting player to get a day off when dealing with a slump, but Sunday marked the second day in a row Jackie Bradley Jr. did not play for the Red Sox.
Bradley, an All-Star last season, hasn’t played in three of the last five games. He is 3 of his last 36 with 11 strikeouts and is hitting .175 with a .513 OPS for the season.
“It’s nothing physical,” said Bradley, who was on disabled list April 9-20 with a sprained right knee and is still wearing a large brace. “Just a slump. I’ll come out of it. It’s still early in the season.”
On Sunday, it was more that manager John Farrell wanted to keep Chris Young in the lineup after he hit two home runs Saturday than any desire to bench Bradley. Young played left field against the Twins with Andrew Benintendi in center.
“A little bit of a momentum play here and another day of work for Jackie,” Farrell said.
Young was 2 for 6 with two doubles and two RBIs in a 17-6 victory Sunday, so the momentum continued. But Farrell wants to return Bradley to the lineup soon, probably Tuesday in Milwaukee.
“He’s a darned good player who’s going through some scuffles right now. A little bit of streakiness to his game,” said Farrell, who believes Bradley is lunging forward too often in his swing.
“He’s upbeat; he’s confident. He’s a key member of this team. We need his production to get back to where it was for a high number of at-bats, and I’m confident he’ll be back to that.”
Bradley has hit .207 in 73 games dating to last Aug. 1.
Hanley Ramirez has not played first base since last season, but the plan is for him to be on the field for at least one of the three games in Milwaukee.
Without the designated hitter in the National League park, the Sox want to keep Ramirez’s bat in the lineup. Farrell also wants to get Mitch Moreland some time off. Moreland has played all but 3⅔ innings in the field this season.
“Not sure what games yet, but [Ramirez] will be at first base,” Farrell said.
Ramirez has not played the field because of a sore right shoulder that he says inhibits his throwing. He started 133 games at first base last season and was adequate defensively.
Ramirez also had only 39 assists last season, by far the fewest of any regular first basemen. Throwing, even when healthy, is not a big part of his defensive game.
Show of support
For the last two days, most of the Sox players wore blue T-shirts under their jerseys that said, “I Support Team Kevin” across the front.
The shirts are a tribute to Kevin Steen, a 20-year-old minor league righthander who was badly injured in a car accident in Fort Myers, Fla., while he was participating in extended spring training.
A driver traveling in the opposite direction lost control and collided with the sports utility vehicle Steen was driving. That person was killed in the accident. Steen is now recovering from surgery to both knees and one of his hips.
Rick Porcello purchased the T-shirts, which were made as part of a fund-raising effort.
“He’s a good kid,” said Young, who met Steen during spring training. “It was a terrible thing that happened. I communicated with somebody who knows him and he’s doing better.”
Holt progressing
Brock Holt did not experience any symptoms of vertigo in his rehabilitation game Saturday with Double A Portland. He had Sunday off and will join up with Triple A Pawtucket on Monday and get at least four at-bats as the designated hitter. Holt will need several games in the field before the Sox consider activating him . . . Lefthander Roenis Elias, who strained a rib cage muscle in spring training, started a rehabilitation assignment with Single A Salem. He got through four innings and 67 pitches, but allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits and two walks. Elias had one strikeout . . . Righthanded reliever Carson Smith, who had a setback in his return from Tommy John surgery, is back to throwing in the bullpen twice a week. He has not yet been cleared to face hitters, however. That will be another 10-14 days.
Seizing the day
The Sox are 10-4 in day games this season with victories in eight of the last nine . . . Even with the day off Monday, the rotation will stay in order. Drew Pomeranz, Kyle Kendrick, and Eduardo Rodriguez will start in Milwaukee . . . The Sox have 20 home runs in their last 14 games after hitting seven in the first 17 . . . Xander Bogaerts has hit safely in 11 straight games at 16 of 42 (.381) . . . Chase d’Arnaud, who was added to the roster April 28, finally played. He ran for Dustin Pedroia in the ninth inning and stayed in to play second base . . . Red Sox batting practice pitcher Matt Noone has a title already this season. He also coaches Babson College and the Beavers won their conference tournament championship Sunday, beating MIT.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.