Red Sox Sticking To Aggressive Approach In Hopes Of Turnaround

Nate Eaton will be leading off for the Boston Red Sox in Saturday’s matchup with the Washington Nationals.

No, that was not a typo.

Eaton, who is viewed by many as a short-term roster option until Alex Bregman returns from the injured list at some point around the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, will receive his first start in the leadoff spot against left-handed starter Mitchell Parker. Jarren Duran, who is batting just .217 against left-handed pitchers this season, is hitting seventh, the lowest he has hit in the order in 2025.

Why?

Red Sox manager Alex Cora plans on leaning heavily into the matchups, and will start seven right-handed bats against a left-handed pitcher.

Romy Gonzalez and Rob Refsnyder, the club’s two lefty mashers, will be in the lineup batting second and fourth, respectively. Carlos Narváez, Trevor Story, Abraham Toro and Ceddanne Rafaela are the other right-handed options in the order, leaving just Duran and rookie Roman Anthony as the left-handed options.

Wilyer Abreu and Marcelo Mayer aren’t in the lineup, despite the former being on a hot streak. It’s the unfortunate part of leaning so heavily into matchup-based play, but given the fact the club is slashing .269/.344/.434 against left-handed pitchers this season, they have no issue doing things this way.

Boston has lost three-consecutive games against lefties, after all.