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.
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.
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.
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.
No easy outs at the bottom of the Boston Red Sox batting order
Batting seventh: Alex Verdugo, RF:
Verdugo is another bat I really like, but by process of elimination, he’s going to be in the seven spot (in my mind at least).
Being one of the main pieces in the Mookie Betts trade, he’s been criticized for not taking the “jump” in his career. In response to that, he came into Spring Training this year in the best shape he’s ever been in and I love that response form him.
Verdugo is done with the talk and he’s ready for his game to do the talking.
The right fielder is going to be playing with a chip on his shoulder this season and I think the extra pressure he’s going to have is going to be great for the young lefty.
A career .286 hitter is going to be looking to pepper the Monster in left field this season. “My goal is to be a doubles machine”, Verdugo said to the Boston Globe. Last season Dugie hit for 39 doubles, a career best, and I am expecting an even bigger year this season for the Verdugo.
In regards to his defense, it could be better as he ranked in the 13th percentile for outs above average, but his arm strength ranked in the 75th percentile. If he improves even little bit in the field, watch out for Alex Verdugo this season.
Batting eighth: Kiké Hernández, SS:
Another good bat who, by process of elimination, has to bat towards the back of the lineup and that’s not a bad thing.
Last season Hernández battled injuries which kept him out a significant part of the season, but after he retuned he hit .240 with eight doubles. When healthy, Hernández is a playmaker on both sides of the ball in any position he plays.
Whether it’s second base, centerfield, shortstop, or any other position, Hernández is going to be a force, as he was in the 87th percentile in outs above average, 98th percentile in outfielder jump and 85th percentile in arm strength.
Batting ninth: Reese McGuire, C:
Was his second half with Boston a fluke? Can he improve defensively? Well right now, there’s no other option. Connor Wong is dealing with a hamstring injury and Jorge Alfaro isn’t going to start the season behind the plate catching for Kluber.
McGuire had an astounding second half of the season after being traded from the White Sox hitting at an astounding .337! I’m going to be honest, I have no idea what made the difference for McGuire, but as soon as he stepped foot in Boston he became a hits machine for the Sox.
Can he continue where he left off last season batting wise? Maybe. Will he? Unsure, but I would love if he did.
Having McGuire start behind the plate with Wong/Alfaro to compliment that makes me comfortable as I think their games all lineup perfectly.
Key Boston Red Sox players off the bench
Bobby Dalbec, SS:
That’s right, shortstop. With Casas and Turner being able to play first base, Boston is going to look to keep Dalbec’s bat in the lineup. Though he doesn’t have a hot bat all season, when he gets hot, he gets hot. In order to keep Dalbec in the majors having him be Hernández’s backup is going to be key to that.
Ramiel Tapia, CF:
I believe Tapia was brought in to light a fire under Jarren Duran to push Duran to be his best self, but so far this spring, Tapia has outperformed Duran. Tapia has the hottest bat on the Sox right now and he’s essentially forcing himself onto the team and I’m not upset about it. If he can keep this little groove he’s in coming from the bench he can provide the busy Sox outfield with some relief.
Rob Refsnyder, RF:
Refsnyder proved last year that he is a serviceable player. He may not be the most razzle-dazzle type player, batting .307 in 57 appearances last year. He’s also showed the Boston faithful that he can provide average-above average defense in the outfield for the Sox.