The 31-year-old, who scored against Scotland with his first touch on his debut last month, will be supported by Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck.
Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Jack Wilshere will start in midfield.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart and a back four of Kyle Walker, Ashley Cole, Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill complete the line-up.
Sturridge has returned to Liverpool for treatment on a thigh injury, meaning Lambert, Welbeck and Jermain Defoe are the only strikers left in Roy Hodgson's squad.
Wayne Rooney, Phil Jones and Glen Johnson also withdrew earlier in the week.
"We still have enough firepower with Lambert and Defoe to replace Sturridge and Rooney even though it would be wrong of me to say they are not players who will be missed," said Hodgson.
Sturridge, 24, may be fit for next week's trip to Ukraine despite his injury. The in-form player has scored five goals for Liverpool already this season, including winners in all three Premier League games.
He has only scored once for England though, as a substitute in the 8-0 win in San Marino in March.
Lambert scored 15 goals for Southampton last season and has one in the Premier League this term.
Manchester United striker Rooney suffered a head injury during training and missed the 1-0 defeat at Liverpool, while team-mate Jones came off with an ankle problem during the match.
Liverpool full-back Johnson also left the field with the same problem.
Cardiff defender Steven Caulker, 21, is also out of the Moldova match after turning his ankle during training. He too could be available for the Ukraine match.
Meanwhile, Chelsea midfielder Lampard, 35, could reach 100 England caps if he also features in Ukraine on Tuesday.
"Lampard could certainly get to 100 caps in these games," added Hodgson.
"There is no reason he won't be considered for the Ukraine game, but we will see what happens against Moldova. We have to see how people play and their fitness before we pick a team for Ukraine."
England currently trail Montenegro by two points in Group H with a game in hand and are only one point ahead of Ukraine.
England team to face Moldova: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Rickie Lambert (Southampton).
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