Why Marcelo Mayer isn't playing today for Red Sox in Opening Day lineup
After all that, he's on the bench.
Why Marcelo Mayer isn't playing today for Red Sox in Opening Day lineup originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . There was a lot made of Marcelo Mayer's chances of making the Boston Red Sox roster for Opening Day.
And after all that, Mayer isn't even in the lineup for Boston's first game. This is how the Red Sox take the field on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds : Roman Anthony LF Trevor Story SS Jarren Duran DH Willson Contreras 1B Caleb Durbin 3B Wilyer Abreu RF Isiah Kiner-Falefa 2B Carlos Narvaez C Ceddanne Rafaela Mayer was slated to be the starting second baseman once he made the Opening Day roster. MORE: Mike Trout, Tiger Woods, and Superman without his cape Why isn't Marcelo Mayer playing today?
Mayer's absence isn't injury- or performanced-related. Rather, it has to do with platoon matchups. The Reds are starting left-handed pitcher Andrew Abbott on the mound.
Mayer is a lefty hitter, and so the Mets have left him on the bench in favor of a platoon edge. MORE: Mets, Marlins risk Moneyball Ron Washington mistake Kiner-Falefa bats from the right side, so he gets the first start against a lefty. It's safe to expect Mayer to be back in the lineup when righties are on the hill.