MIAMI -- The Boston Red Sox hospital ward of an outfield would look a lot more dire had Scott Podsednik not come to play.

After a 3-for-4 night in Monday’s dismal loss to the Miami Marlins, Podsednik is batting .405 in 14 games with the Red Sox. With Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford likely weeks away from action, Cody Ross still out and Daniel Nava nicked up, Podsednik’s performance has been a welcome relief.

Since his May 22 recall from Pawtucket, Podsednik leads the American League in batting (minimum 25 plate appearances) and has reached base in all but one of his 11 starts. Not bad for a guy stuck in Triple-A last season, on his fifth team in two years.

“Wherever he’s hitting, he’s played a great brand of baseball for us,” Valentine said. “He’s an aggressive guy. His confidence is something our team needs to see. He’s performing well. He’s hitting .400, stealing bases when he’s got the opportunity and scoring runs.”

Podsednik, who is 4-for-11 lifetime against Marlins starter Mark Buehrle, his former Chicago White Sox teammate, has settled into a catalyst role for the Sox. At 36, he doesn’t run like he used to -- he once stole 70 bases and has swiped 30 or more seven times -- but has five steals, which would equate to 20 over 162 games.

As would be expected from a player with 305 career steals, his method is refined.

“He takes the best lead of anyone on our team,” Valentine said. “He takes it in the proper place. He has very good technique when he starts and he understands how to slide. His start and his finish are what makes him good.”

Podsednik, who starts in center tonight against the Marlins, has played for seven big-league clubs in his 11-year career. He was a non-roster invitee last year with Toronto, then was signed by the Phillies in May, but injuries didn’t let him crack the bigs.

For now, he’s wearing No. 26 for Boston and getting on base somewhat like Wade Boggs.

“I can’t explain it,” Valentine said. “He explains it as he’s more healthy. He feels much better than he has in a while. When you have 100 percent health, that’s the only chance you have at performing at this level at a high level. He’s doing that.”

DIFFERENT LOOK: Despite a .345 batting average in 58 at-bats against Marlins lefty Mark Buehrle, David Ortiz is on the bench. It was decided two weeks ago that he would sit the second game of the three-game set, Valentine said. Kevin Youkilis starts at first, with Will Middlebrooks taking Youkilis’ spot at third. Adrian Gonzalez remains in right. Darnell McDonald starts in left, with Kelly Shoppach behind the plate.

ROOF REDUX: The roof at Marlins Park is again open, and in a change from last night, the giant windows in left and center field are also open. It remains to be seen how that affects Buehrle and Clay Buchholz tonight.

INJURY UPDATES: Daniel Nava is not available tonight. The cortisone injection he received on Saturday hasn’t helped, Valentine said.

-- Jacoby Ellsbury hit from the tee and hit soft tosses. He is expected to travel with the team to Chicago this weekend. “He’s making constant progress,” Valentine said.

-- Rich Hill said his strained flexor muscle was a gradual injury, not something that happened on a particular pitch. “It was nerve-wracking,” Hill said. They were treating it, and it started to get worse.”

FLOWN AWAY: The Red Sox released Marlon Byrd, who was designated for assignment Saturday to make room for Daisuke Matsuzaka.

TAUNTING EL TIANTE: Sox legend Luis Tiant, who threw out the first pitch before Monday’s game, was chatting with players in the clubhouse. Using R-rated verbiage, Josh Beckett taunted him on the quality of the pitch. “Did you see the smoke?” Tiante said. “Yeah, from your cigar,” Beckett shot back.

Beckett also had harsh-but-friendly words for Marlins pitcher Josh Johnson during batting practice. “Slider? Really?” he shouted at Johnson, who whiffed him on that pitch in Monday’s game. Breach of the pitchers’ code, Beckett argued.