Boston Red Sox 2023 Opening Day lineup projection & predictions
Opening day for the Boston Red Sox is approaching quick and there are still some question marks surrounding this team. Who’s leading off?
Will Yoshida’s game translate to the MLB? Can Devers stay healthy and carry this team as needed?
What’s the lineup going to look like?
Top of the Boston Red Sox batting order may surprise you
March 30 against the Orioles is about a week and a half away and I wanted to give my prediction as to what the opening day lineup will look like.
Leading off – Tristan Casas, 1B:
Casas is having a good spring so far batting .359 with an OPS of 1.009 proving that he can get on base. His discipline at the plate hasn’t changed much from the little glimpse we saw last year and his defense continues to impress Red Sox fans who probably wish they had his glove at first base all of last year.
light. Related Story. Triston Casas will put up All-Star numbers in 2023
I’m excited to get a full season of Casas considering the platoon at first base we had last year and I think he’s going to be a great leadoff hitter for the Sox, and make his case for AL Rookie of the Year.
Batting second: Justin Turner, DH:
Signed to a one year deal with Boston in January, Turner is going to provide the leadership that the Red Sox are going to need since their unofficial captain signed with San Diego this past offseason.
The replacement for J.D. Martinez had an a K percentage in the 78th percentile last season and his chase rate was in the 64th percentile. Having an above average hitter in front of Rafael Devers is going to be huge as it’s going to put more pressure on the opposing pitchers, something they didn’t really have last year.
After getting hit square in the face from a fastball earlier this offseason, Turner’s status for opening day seemed questionable. Now it’s clear, he should be available come March 30.
Batting third: Rafael Devers, 3B:
Just like every other Red Sox fan, I am ecstatic to have this young All-Star locked up for the next 10 years. Rafael Devers (as always) is going to be a key piece for this Red Sox team and may single handily determine the success of the team.
His defensive game has improved every year which is huge, putting him in the conversation as one of the top third basemen in the whole league.
There’s not much to say about his bat since we all know what he’s capable of doing, it’s just keeping him healthy or as close to 100 percent as possible for the entirety of the season. Last season, he was battling some hamstring injuries which slowed his production down in the middle of the season, but if he stays healthy, I could see Devers getting some MVP talk.