BOSTON — Struggling Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story is not in the Red Sox lineup Sunday against the Orioles. David Hamilton is playing short.
Story is 14-for-105 (.133) with just one home run and one double in 26 games since April 22.
Manager Alex Cora was asked during his pregame media availability what the Red Sox need to do to get Story going offensively.
“Disconnect him today. Maybe tomorrow. And keep working,” Cora said. “It’s not a lack of working. It’s been a lot. And maybe just kind like back up and just watch the game from a different perspective.”
Boston has a 2:10 p.m. game against the Brewers in Milwaukee on Monday. As Cora indicated, Story might get the day off again.
Cora said he doesn’t want Story to think about the game plan today.
“Just relax and clear your mind,” Cora said. “Hopefully that benefits him.”
Story has had trouble catching up to fastballs. He’s fouling off good pitches to hit instead of doing damage.
Story’s best years offensively were 2018-21 — and he was able to feast on fastballs each of those seasons.
vs. fastballs:
- 2018: .306 batting average, .572 slugging percentage.
- 2019: .298 batting average, .570 slugging percentage.
- 2020: .304 batting average, .507 slugging percentage.
- 2021: .273 batting average, .498 slugging percentage.
This year, he’s 18-for-99 (.182) with a .192 slugging percentage, 17 singles and one double against fastballs.
“We know what’s going on,” Cora said. “Just a matter of hopefully it happens in the game. So we’re working hard.”
