Red Sox lineup: Masataka Yoshida sits for third straight game with another lefty on mound
Despite an insistence from manager Alex Cora that the club believes Yoshida can handle lefties, he's once again on the bench Monday as Boston begins a three-game series with the Royals. Lefty-mashers Romy Gonzalez (leading off, playing second base) and Rob Refsnyder (the designated hitter, batting fourth) are at the top of the lineup, as assumed. Roman Anthony is in right field and Jarren Duran is in left field with Wilyer Abreu the odd man out of the outfield picture.
Yoshida has hit just .229 with a homer (off a position player), three doubles and a .614 OPS in 14 games since returning from the injured list. He has made three starts against southpaws and is 4-for-13 in a small sample.
As expected, catcher Connor Wong will start again, marking the first time since early May he has caught two games in a row. Cora likes to line Wong up with righty Brayan Bello and that'll be the case again Monday with Carlos Narváez on the bench.
Bello, who owns a 2.77 ERA in his last 12 games dating back to May 28, will try to set the tone for the Red Sox, who are looking for their sixth straight win. Boston, after sweeping the Astros over the weekend, is in sole possession of the top wild card spot in the American League and is three games back of the Blue Jays in the AL East race. The Royals, with trade addition Bailey Falter on the mound, are 3 ½ games out of a wild card spot at .500 (56-56).
First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. ET.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS (56-56) @ BOSTON RED SOX (62-51) · FENWAY PARK · BOSTON, MA · GAME 114
FIRST PITCH: 7:10 p.m. ET
TV CHANNEL: NESN
RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM
PITCHING PROBABLES: LHP Bailey Falter (7-5, 3.73 ERA) vs. RHP Brayan Bello (7-5, 3.19 ERA)
RED SOX LINEUP: Gonzalez 2B, Bregman 3B, Anthony RF, Refsnyder DH, Story SS, Rafaela CF, Duran LF, Toro 1B, Wong C
1) 2B Romy Gonzalez
2) 3B Alex Bregman
3) RF Roman Anthony
4) DH Rob Refsnyder
5) SS Trevor Story
6) CF Ceddanne Rafaela
7) LF Jarren Duran
8) 1B Abraham Toro
9) C Connor Wong
ROYALS LINEUP:
1) 2B Jonathan India
2) SS Bobby Witt Jr.
3) 1B Vinnie Pasquantino
4) 3B Maikel Garcia
5) C Salvador Perez
6) RF Mike Yastrzemski
7) DH Adam Frazier
8) LF John Rave
9) CF Kyle Isbel
More Red Sox coverage
Red Sox's Trevor Story named AL Player of the Week after hot streak
Top Red Sox pitching prospect stays on fast track, promoted to Triple-A in first pro season
Red Sox asked for too much, got 'crickets' at trade deadline (report)
Social media had Joe Ryan believing he was traded to Red Sox
Red Sox starter hates mornings but wasn't 'horribly groggy' before gem
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