PHOENIX — In the wake of Roman Anthony’s oblique injury, Red Sox manager Alex Cora figured he’d shift Jarren Duran back to his familiar spot as the leadoff man against most — if not all — right-handed pitchers. But on Saturday, it was Masataka Yoshida, for the first time in the major leagues, hitting first against the Diamondbacks.
The reason? Cora likes having Duran near the middle of the lineup as a potential run-producer. Against Arizona righty Brandon Pfaadt, Duran is hitting third behind Alex Bregman. Trevor Story and hot-hitting first baseman Nathaniel Lowe are hitting fourth and fifth. Yoshida, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles in his last game Tuesday against Cleveland, was therefore the choice to hit first.
“He had a good game the other day,” Cora said. “Trying to keep Jarren, Trevor and Nate together. Run producers. They’ve been good with runners in scoring position and all that stuff. So we’ll give it a shot and see what happens.”
Yoshida has never started a game as the leadoff man in his three big league seasons. Cora has used him all over the lineup, as Yoshida has at least 35 starts hitting second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth. Saturday will present a new challenge for the 32-year-old. But the Red Sox are encouraged by the fact Yoshida is a career .333 hitter and has an .851 OPS leading off innings.
“We talked about it yesterday in the seventh inning,” said Cora. “I asked him, ‘Have you ever led off?’ and he said, ‘A while ago.’ I asked if he’d feel uncomfortable about it and he said, ‘No, it’s the same at-bat.’ Nothing’s gonna change.”
Yoshida, who missed the first three-plus months of the season due to a slow recovery from October shoulder surgery, hasn’t given the Red Sox much with his bat since making his season debut on July 9. Even with his good outing Tuesday against Cleveland, Yoshida is hitting just .242 with two homers, eight doubles, 13 RBIs and a .654 OPS in 132 plate appearances. His on-base percentage — which was .343 in his first two big league years — is .295.
With Anthony out, the Red Sox could really use a solid few weeks from Yoshida, no matter where he’s hitting in the lineup.
“It’s very important,” Cora said. “This is a guy we envisioned as a great hitter. When he’s locked in, he hits the ball hard and he gets on base at a high rate. That’s what we expect. Talking to Pete (Fatse) and the group, they felt like he was getting close last week so hopefully, today, he can continue with that.”
Yoshida may also be relied on more defensively with both Anthony and Wilyer Abreu (calf strain) on the injured list. Yoshida has started just three games in left field so far this year but Boston might turn to him in the coming days in an alignment that shifts Duran to right field and Rob Refsnyder to the designated hitter position. Nate Eaton is starting in right field for the second straight night Saturday.
“At one point, we’re gonna have to do that if we want Ref in the lineup,” said Cora. “We’re mixing and matching now. Here (at Chase Field), it makes sense to have Nate, Ceddanne and Jarren because it’s so spacious.”
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