ST. LOUIS — For the first time since April 11, Ceddanne Rafaela is out of the Red Sox lineup as Boston begins a three-game series in St. Louis on Friday afternoon. Rafaela had started Boston’s last 31 games in a row.
Rafaela, who was just 3-for-22 (.136) with a homer and a double on the Sox’ seven-game homestand, will get a rare day off with David Hamilton in the lineup as the shortstop and Jarren Duran starting in center field. Tyler O’Neill is back in the lineup to face his old team as the left fielder, hitting fifth, with Connor Wong third before cleanup hitter Rafael Devers. Dominic Smith is at first base and Garrett Cooper is the designated hitter against veteran righty Kyle Gibson.
