BOSTON — Before Tuesday’s game against the Rockies, Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony was on the Fenway Park field, getting a crash course in playing balls off the Green Monster from outfield coach Kyle Hudson. That lesson might pay off immediately.
Anthony, who has started 14 times in right field and made just one appearance in left field (in San Francisco on June 21) is expected to make his Fenway left field debut Wednesday, according to manager Alex Cora. The shift will coincide with the healthy return of designated hitter/left fielder Masataka Yoshida to a crowded outfield/DH mix. It remains unclear how all the pieces fit together.
In their last four games against left-handed starters, the Red Sox have committed to putting Anthony (hitting .386 with a .944 OPS in his last 10 games in the lineup), either as the right fielder or designated hitter, at the expense of Wilyer Abreu (three times) or Jarren Duran (once). Rob Refsnyder has played all four games, including three at DH.
Starting Tuesday, though, with righty Antonio Senzatela pitching for the Rockies, the decisions will get tougher with Yoshida in the fold. The third-year Japanese native will likely sit against lefties but will be the daily DH against righties while seeing some time in left.
“Mostly DH but it’s not like last year where he’s not going to play the outfield,” Cora said. “He’s healthy, he is throwing the ball well and we’ll use him for whatever we need that day.”
With Yoshida as the DH against righties and Refsnyder a lock to play against lefties DH at-bats are no longer as readily available as they have been. Ceddanne Rafaela’s offensive outburst and steady, elite defense in center make him a lock to start daily. And if Anthony is going to play every day — Cora on Tuesday said “Roman is going to hit second or third in our lineup” against both righties and lefties — it appears as though either Duran or Abreu will see some time off against pitchers of both handedness.
On Wednesday, with Anthony manning left field, Duran might be the odd man out for the day like he was Monday, when he was out of the lineup for just the third time in 91 games. It’s the reality of where the Red Sox stand with a crowded — and slightly dysfunctional — roster that will include six players for four outfield/DH spots on a daily basis.
“It’s good to have a lot of good players on the same roster,” said Alex Cora. “This is where we’re at roster-wise. It’s not difficult. It’s the nature of the roster. (Richard Fitts) won (Monday) and we optioned him. It seems like the roster is a lot better than the last two years.
“This is what it’s all about — making decisions based on what we need up here and understanding that there are guys, who, if something happens, they’re going to be ready to come back and contribute.”