The Red Sox are taking an eye-opening approach to Friday night’s opener in Pittsburgh, sitting Ceddanne Rafaela and pushing Adley Rutschman into a premium spot in the order against Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler.
Rafaela was left out of Boston’s starting lineup at PNC Park, with Eli White taking over in center field and batting ninth. It’s a notable change for one of the club’s most productive players, especially with the Red Sox trying to carry momentum from Thursday’s 7-0 win over the Blue Jays that ended a five-game skid.
Manager Chad Tracy also shuffled the top of the order. Nick Sogard is leading off and playing second base, while Masataka Yoshida bats second.
Rutschman, who joined Boston in the blockbuster deal earlier in the week, slides into the No. 3 spot. Willson Contreras follows in the cleanup role, with Wilyer Abreu hitting fifth.
That setup gives Boston a different look right away. It also puts Rutschman in a position to hit with traffic on the bases, something the Red Sox clearly want to test early as they continue sorting out how to deploy their new catcher. The switch-hitter is not being eased in near the bottom of the lineup; Boston is putting him in the middle of the action immediately.
Rafaela’s night off is still the biggest headline. The 25-year-old made his first All-Star team this season and has looked like an American League MVP candidate thanks to his blend of power, speed and defense. He came into the Pittsburgh series hitting .288 with 16 home runs and 16 stolen bases, along with 16 defensive runs saved and 14 outs above average in center field.
The decision also makes sense from a workload standpoint. Boston is entering a stretch of six games in six days, and it returns home Monday for a three-game set against the Diamondbacks. Giving Rafaela a break now lets the Red Sox manage his load without losing him entirely; he’s still available off the bench as a late defensive option, pinch-runner or right-handed bat.
White’s inclusion gives Boston a strong defender in center at a ballpark where that matters. PNC Park can demand range, and while White is a step down offensively from Rafaela, he gives the Red Sox a reliable glove in a demanding spot.
The bottom half of the lineup has a few moving parts too. Caleb Durbin is hitting sixth after his biggest night in a Red Sox uniform, when he delivered three hits and five RBIs, including a grand slam in the eighth inning. It was the second grand slam of his major league career and the kind of burst Boston badly needed after scoring only four total runs over the first three games in Toronto.
Jarren Duran bats seventh, with Andruw Monasterio at shortstop and White rounding things out in center. Boston’s hope is that Sogard and Yoshida can work Chandler deep into counts before Rutschman and Contreras get their chances. Chandler is coming off six scoreless innings against the Mets, when he allowed just three hits in a 9-0 win, so the Red Sox will need to make him labor early.
Boston’s full lineup: Nick Sogard, 2B; Masataka Yoshida, DH; Adley Rutschman, C; Willson Contreras, 1B; Wilyer Abreu, RF; Caleb Durbin, 3B; Jarren Duran, LF; Andruw Monasterio, SS; Eli White, CF.
Jake Bennett will start for Boston against Chandler. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET, with the game on NESN and WEEI.
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