Red Sox lineup vs. Yankees has Jarren Duran sitting, Masataka Yoshida at DH
Jarren Duran is the odd man out of the Red Sox lineup as Boston welcomes the Yankees to town for the first time in 2026.
BOSTON — Jarren Duran sat twice over the weekend as the Red Sox faced back-to-back tough lefties in Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez. On Monday, Duran is once again on the bench despite the Yankees starting the right-handed Luis Gil. With Roman Anthony (left field) and Masataka Yoshida (designated hitter) both starting against Gil, Duran is the odd man out for the first meeting between Boston and New York this season.
Elsewhere, the Red Sox lineup is as expected with second baseman Marcelo Mayer, third baseman Caleb Durbin and catcher Carlos Narváez starting. Willson Contreras is again hitting second behind the leadoff man, Anthony, while Yoshida is hitting third. In the eyes of manager Alex Cora, who has rotated through his five outfield/DH types so far this season, the decision was about getting Yoshida — who is hitting .
440 (11-for-25) with three doubles and five RBIs since April 5 — in the lineup. “Masa’s swinging the bat well. He’s taking his walks and he’s putting good at-bats.
It was his turn to play. ” Duran went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Monday’s win and Cora chose to pinch-hit light-hitting utility man Isiah Kiner-Falefa for him (to attempt to bunt) in the seventh inning. Duran’s average is down to .