BALTIMORE — Dustin Pedroia says he doesn’t care either way, but manager Terry Francona believes moving Pedroia back to the No. 2 spot in the order will help him.

In his place, J.D. Drew led off Monday night.

“It’s not the biggest deal in the world,” said Francona before the game. “I thought Pedey was almost being too conscientious. The last thing I want guys to do is change. I don’t know if he has the ability. He sees himself hitting first and he wants so bad to do the right thing, he’s getting himself in the hole with the count, and I just thought to move him back to second. ... He’s just trying too hard to do the right thing. We just want him to be himself.”

Francona said Pedroia did not complain to him about leading off. In fact, he didn’t want to change because the Sox have been winning.

“That’s Pedey. That’s why we love him. He cares more about winning than himself,” said Francona.

When asked about the change, Pedroia said it really didn’t matter to him. He said he’s a little more aggressive in the leadoff spot, whereas he can think more situational hitting from the No. 2 spot.

“As long as we keep finding ways to win, which is huge,” Pedroia said.

Opposing pitchers have been pitching him away more this season, and even though his power numbers are down, he already has more doubles than he did at this point a season ago.

Lowell treated

Along with receiving a Synvisc injection in Boston on Monday, Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell had 15 cubic centimeters of fluid drained from his surgically repaired hip.

“For him, that pretty extensive,” said Francona. “That’s going to really help.”

Lowell will stay in Boston and meet with the team’s physical therapist, Scott Waugh, on Tuesday. He will not rejoin the team for the final three games of this road trip. The Sox have Thursday off, so the club will wait to see how Lowell reacts to the injection.

Francona, Lowell and general manager Theo Epstein all have all had “extensive” conversations with the medical staff about how to proceed.

“The worst-case scenario is he goes on the DL,” said Francona. “That will buy us a couple of weeks where he can get a second wind for the second part of the season. We can also wait a couple of days and let him play if that’s OK, too. We’re just kind of in a waiting mode. I think we have the ability to wait a couple of days.”

Lowell, 35, had surgery in November and has been able to play 68 of 76 games this season.

Slow going

Red Sox shortstop Jed Lowrie’s rehab from wrist surgery has been slowed by a bruised knee that is now affecting the rest of his leg.

He was hit in the back of his left knee last Tuesday and it has set him back while he remains with the PawSox.

Lowrie was removed from Sunday’s game in the fifth inning after two at-bats. He did not play Monday night, either.

“He’s overcompensating and he’s got a pretty good bruise,” said Francona. “It’s nothing serious.”

Francona explained that Lowrie’s quad fatigues more quickly due to the contusion and swelling on the back of his knee.

“This is nothing that we are tremendously worried about. The one thing it does is get in the way of his progression with his wrist. We just have to be patient. We can’t throw a guy out there until he’s ready,” said Francona.

Lowrie had wrist surgery in April and has played five rehab games with the PawSox and is 2-for-10 with a RBI and two walks.

jmcdonal@projo.com