By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

Jacoby Ellsbury is the DH for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox today in Sarasota, Fla., against the Orioles.

He has grounded to first, flied to center and struck out looking so far.

Carl Crawford will play for Double A Portland tonight at Hadlock Field at 6 p.m. Meanwhile Ryan Sweeney is expected to play in a rehab game on Thursday and Scott Podsednik is three games into his rehab with Triple A Pawtucket.

Crawford and Ellsbury are not expected to be activated until after the All-Star break. Sweeney and Podsednik could be ready this weekend, although the Sox do have the option of waiting.

Sometime soon, the Red Sox will have to make some tough decisions with their roster. Crawford and Ellsbury are on the 60-day DL, so their return will mean changes to the 40-man roster, too.

UPDATE, 4:30 p.m.: Ellsbury hit a fly ball to right field in his final at-bat today. He is 2 for 10 with three runs scored, three RBIs and four walks in four games.