Masataka Yoshida will sit out Monday’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, a previously announced decision that will allow Tyler O’Neill a day off his feet as the designated hitter while getting more right-handed bats in the lineup against Toronto lefty Yusei Kikuchi.

Yoshida and O’Neill have both battled injuries recently, and while each is expected to get regular playing time going forward, the club is trying to be careful with O’Neill, who has battled persistent right knee inflammation for much of the past month.

O’Neill has played much better recently, and over his past four games he’s batted .278 with a home run, a double, five RBI and an .800 OPS.

O’Neill will be among five right-handers in the first seven spots to face Kikuchi, who enters Monday at 4-5 with a 3.26 ERA. Rob Refsnyder will also start at right field and bat second, Connor Wong will catch and bat fifth, freshly activated Romy Gonzalez will play second base and bat sixth and Bobby Dalbec will play first and bat seventh.

Nick Pivetta (3-4, 3.88) will get the start for the Red Sox, who have won four of their last five games and currently sit two games over .500 at 37-35. Boston hasn’t been three games or more over .500 since May 5, when they improved to 19-16 after beating the Minnesota Twins in the finale of that weekend’s three-game series.

Red Sox lineup

Jarren Duran LF

Rob Refsnyder RF

Tyler O’Neill DH

Rafael Devers 3B

Connor Wong C

Romy Gonzalez 2B

Bobby Dalbec 1B

David Hamilton SS

Ceddanne Rafaela CF

Nick Pivetta P

How to watch

When: 7:07 p.m.

Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Broadcast info: NESN, WEEI 93.7 FM, WCCM 1490 AM (Spanish)