Red Sox lineup: Roman Anthony again at DH on Saturday vs. Padres; Masataka Yoshida sits
Roman Anthony served as the Red Sox’ designated hitter just once on the six-game season-opening road trip. On Saturday, though, he’s doing so for the second straight day.
BOSTON — Roman Anthony served as the Red Sox’ designated hitter just once on the six-game season-opening road trip . On Saturday, though, he’s doing so for the second straight day. Anthony is the DH and Jarren Duran is starting in left field again against the Padres as the Red Sox look for their second straight win at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox will use the exact same lineup as they did in Friday’s 5-2 win. Marcelo Mayer is at second base against Padres righty Randy Vásquez and Carlos Narváez is catching Connelly Early, who will make his second start of the season. With five healthy options in the outfield/DH mix, manager Alex Cora has vowed to mix and match the group of Anthony, Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela and Masataka Yoshida in the early goings.
On the road trip, Anthony got four starts in left field and one at DH with Duran playing left field twice, center field once and serving as the DH three times. Saturday’s alignment, like Friday’s, is about preferring Duran’s defense in left field to Anthony’s at the moment. Cora said the club feels as though Anthony’s footwork in the outfield has been “off” in the early goings.
“There’s a few things we have to be better (with) defensively,” Cora said, “and the kid (Anthony) knows it. The other day, there was a play where (Carlos) Correa was at second and there was a base hit to left and we have to throw him out. He knows it.