Alex Cora prioritizing offense over defense in Red Sox lineup vs. old friend on Easter Sunday
BOSTON — The Red Sox have struggled to score runs early this season, and with that in mind, Alex Cora is prioritizing offense over defense with an old friend on the mound for the Padres on Sunday. Boston is starting Masataka Yoshida in left field, Jarren Duran in center field and Roman Anthony at designated hitter while sitting Ceddanne Rafaela in the rubber game of a three-game set against San Diego. After scoring just twice in Saturday’s loss, the Sox will look to get back on track against Walker Buehler, who is now with the Padres after a poor season in Boston that ended with his release on Labor Day weekend.
It’s Yoshida’s first start of the series and just his fourth (including two games in left field) in nine games so far this season . He’s 0-for-9 with six walks in limited playing time so far. Elsewhere in the lineup, the Sox have Marcelo Mayer at second base and Carlos Narváez catching for the third straight day.
On the mound, free agent addition Ranger Suárez will look to follow in Sonny Gray’s footsteps and make a much better second impression in a Red Sox uniform after struggling in his team debut. In Houston on Monday, Suárez allowed four runs on seven hits in 4 ⅓ innings, continuing a troubling trend after getting hit hard at the end of spring training. With Boston’s bullpen somewhat taxed after Connelly Early went just four innings Saturday, expect rookie Tyler Uberstine to make his major league debut at some point in relief Sunday.
First pitch is at 1:35 p. m. ET.
BOSTON RED SOX (2-6) vs. SAN DIEGO PADRES (3-5) · FENWAY PARK · BOSTON, MA · GAME 9 FIRST PITCH : 1:35 p. m.