How Red Sox Outfielder Is Handling Growing Lineup Logjam
The lineup got more crowded this week
The Boston Red Sox lineup got more crowded before the All-Star break.
Boston already had four outfielders justifying regular reps before activating Masataka Yoshida from the injured list. Starting at designated hitter, he went 3-for-4 in a successful season debut Wednesday night.
Wilyer Abreu nevertheless stayed in the starting lineup to belt his 18th home run as Boston’s cleanup hitter. The 26-year-old had sat out three of the previous four games, all against left-handed starting pitchers.
Following Wednesday’s 10-2 win over the Colorado Rockies, via NESN’s post-game coverage, Abreu discussed how he’s handling sporadic playing time.
“I always try to stay ready,” Abreu said. “I feel like everyone does a really good job trying to stay ready for whenever the opportunity comes up, whenever Alex (Cora) needs us. For me, the key is just try to be ready for whenever they need me.”
Yoshida’s return complicates Cora’s task of assembling a lineup card. Unless someone moves to the infield, the manager won’t have room for at least one of Yoshida, Abreu, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela or Roman Anthony every day. Among those five players, only Anthony has started each of the last three games.
Abreu will likely remain an odd-man out against lefties, against whom he’s batting .231/.318/.385. The left-handed Yoshida should also return to a platoon role to keep lefty-mashers Rob Refsnyder and Romy Gonzalez in the mix.
The bigger question is how Cora proceeds against right-handed pitching.
Abreu, Yoshida, Duran and Anthony are all lefties with favorable results in the split. All four started when Rafaela got a rare breather Wednesday, but the lineup’s WAR leader seems too valuable to sit often as he pairs elite center-field defense with an offensive hot streak.
Red Sox fans will see how Cora handles his lineup during a pivotal four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
