I love Pedey, but even if he's healthy, I can't be the only one who doesn't want him batting in the top half of the line-up. He battles and takes pitches, but his pop and speed have diminished and he is no longer a good base runner. He makes the top even more RH heavy. Let him bat lead-off in the home opener, but otherwise, let him lengthen the lineup in the 6th or 7th spot and keep Beni 2d.
I agree. If Pedroia is healthy, then I think they have to alter the catching situation. Let's assume 13 position players (since I think they tend towards 12 pitchers during the season):
C - Leon, Vazquez
IF - Pearce, Moreland, Pedroia, Devers, Bogaerts, Holt, Nunez
OF - Betts, Benintendi, Bradley, Martinez
The catching situation would be interesting. Not sure they want to stash Swihart in the minors but they could. I'd prefer to trade either Leon or Vazquez but there's some advantages to the situation they currently have.
Lineup vs. RHP
RF Betts
LF Benintendi
DH Martinez
SS Bogaerts
3b Devers
2b Pedroia
1b Moreland
C Leon
CF Bradley
Bench: Vazquez, Holt, Nunez, Pearce
Lineup vs. LHP
RF Betts
LF Benintendi
1b Pearce
DH Martinez
SS Bogaerts
3b Nunez (I'd still prefer Devers but whatever)
2b Pedroia
C Vazquez
CF Bradley
Bench: Leon, Holt, Devers, Moreland
FWIW, in 2017, in 463 PA, Pedroia hit 19 2b, 7 hr, and put up a slash of .293/.369/.392/.790. In 2018, Red Sox' 2b had 618 PA and hit 32 2b, 8 hr, and hit .252/.308/.350/.658. So a healthy Pedroia likely is a huge improvement offensively over what Sox' 2b put up this past season. Plus, he's still stellar defensively.