NEW YORK — Rookie Marcelo Mayer again is not in the Red Sox lineup Saturday against a left-handed starting pitcher.
The Red Sox will face Yankees southpaw Ryan Yarbrough here at Yankee Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.
Boston has faced lefty starters three times in its past five games, including Saturday. Mayer hasn’t been in the starting lineup for any of those three games.
Manager Alex Cora likes having switch-hitter Abraham Toro (third base) and right-handed hitter Romy Gonzalez (first base) in the lineup vs. left-handed starters.
Shortstop Trevor Story (.591 OPS) and second baseman Kristian Campbell (.658 OPS), both right-handed hitters, are struggling.
So why not start Mayer at shortstop, his natural position, or second base vs. a lefty? In that scenario, Toro, Gonzalez and Mayer would all be in the lineup.
“I don’t know. I don’t know if we’re going to do that tomorrow,” Cora said when asked if he’s considered Mayer at shortstop or second vs. a lefty.
The Red Sox will face another left-handed starter, Carlos Rodón, on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball tomorrow evening.
“There’s a chance” Mayer won’t be in the lineup again Sunday, Cora said.
Cora has a history of sitting young left-handed hitters against left-handed starters. He also often pinch hits for them late in games against lefty relievers. Cora pinch hit for Mayer in the sixth inning against a lefty reliever Friday after Mayer belted his first major league homer in the fifth inning vs. a righty.
“I’ve been doing this for a while,” Cora said. “That’s the way I manage. We’ve been through the progression of lefties — them being able to hit lefties. And we hit for Raffy Devers in the (2018) World Series. So if we can do it in the World Series, we can do it in the regular season.”
