Boston Red Sox 2023 Opening Day lineup projection & predictions
Middle of the Boston Red Sox lineup could do damage
Batting fourth: Adam Duvall, CF:
Adam Duvall was brought to the Red Sox for the same reason as Justin Turner. To take some pressure off of Rafael Devers. Duvall and Turner are both going to be surrounding Devers in the lineup so opposing pitchers can’t just pitch around the young stud.
Last season, Duvall struggled a little bit battling some injuries with the Atlanta Braves, but the year before that, he mashed 38 home runs with 113 RBI. That’s the production that Chaim and Red Sox fans are going to be looking for.
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Normally a corner outfielder, Duvall is going to be tasked with being the Red Sox centerfielder while Kiké Hernández plays short in the place of the injured Adalberto Mondesí. Duvall said he ramped up his training this offseason to be ready to play the massive center field and he’s shown some promise down in Florida that he’s ready to go.
Batting fifth: Masataka Yoshida, LF:
The marquee free agent signing of the Red Sox 2023 offseason could be batting in the middle of the order. When he was first signed, all signs pointed to Yoshida batting leadoff, which he still could, but I would just prefer Casas to take some of the pressure off of the rookie.
In the World Baseball Classic, Yoshida is playing as well as anyone for Team Japan. Batting .400 through five games and leading all WBC players with 10 RBI. Sensational. With the power and plate discipline Yoshida is showing, having him in the heart of this Red Sox lineup could be more beneficial than having him leadoff.
Playing with the Monster behind him for half of the season will be an adjustment, but I have a feeling he’ll be just fine.
Batting sixth: Christian Arroyo, 2B:
Christian Arroyo will have an opportunity to be the everyday second basemen while Trevor Story recovers from an offseason elbow surgery and I’m all for it.
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Giving Arroyo an everyday roster spot certainly comes with its fair share of questions, but the main question being can he stay healthy. As an optimistic Red Sox fan, I say yes he can.
I’m just hoping, at least. Throughout Arroyos six year tenure in the bigs, he’s never played more than 87 games, which he achieved last season. Given “all” the playing time last year, he had his best season batting .286, .322, and .414 with six homers and 36 RBI.
I like Christian Arroyos bat and his aggressiveness at the plate, never afraid to swing at the first pitch. If Arroyo is able to stay healthy until Story’s return, his presence in the six spot will be huge for Boston.