Red Sox Make Funky Lineup Choice Trying To Snap Recent Skid

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora did some lineup tinkering on Sunday.

Ceddanne Rafaela will not only bat third in the order, but will also play second base in the series finale against the Chicago Cubs, which is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field.

Alex Bregman will sit, which was always the plan, meaning the rest of the infield will be made up of Romy González (first base), Trevor Story (shortstop) and Marcelo Mayer (third base) — a completely new unit. Masataka Yoshida, Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu will make up the outfield, from left to right. Roman Anthony is the designated hitter, while Carlos Narváez will be behind the dish.

Yoshida will be starting in the outfield for the first time since October 1, 2023. NESN’s Jahmai Webster asked him about his return to the field on Sunday,

“I would say I was missing [it] a lot,” Yoshida said through an interpreter.

Garrett Crochet (10-4, 2.23 ERA) will start for Boston. Cade Horton (3-3, 4.45 ERA) will oppose for Chicago.

It’s not necessarily about who is in the lineup, though. It’s about where they are.

Duran, Anthony, Rafaela, Yoshida, Story, Abreu, Narváez, Mayer and González will bat in that order, which seemingly will help lengthen the lineup and create more activity on the basepathes. Boston hopes so, anyway, as the end of this series just bleeds into two more against division leaders heading into the trade deadline.

It’s time for them to go, or they might risk not being rewarded for their hot stretch prior to the All-Star break.