FORT MYERS, Fla. — Marcelo Mayer will make his first Grapefruit League appearance of the spring on Friday, getting the start at second base when the Red Sox face Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves in North Port.
Mayer has been held out of game action so far in order to give the second-year infielder time to ramp up more slowly after undergoing season-ending wrist surgery last summer. Mayer is expected to be among the top candidates to earn a starting job, though what position he and newcomer Caleb Durbin will focus on has been a key question early in camp.
Durbin started at second base on Thursday and is expected to again at least one more time over the weekend. Both Durbin and Mayer primarily played third base in 2025 at the big league level, though both are capable defenders all over the infield.
Brayan Bello will get his second start of the spring, and he is expected to be followed out of the bullpen by Zack Kelly, Kyle Keller, Seth Martinez, Noah Song and Jeremy Wu-Yelland.
In addition to Mayer, Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are all in Friday’s lineup as well. Duran will be starting in right field instead of his usual left because he will be playing right for Team Mexico in next month’s World Baseball Classic.
Red Sox lineup
Roman Anthony LF
Ceddanne Rafaela CF
Jarren Duran RF
Wilyer Abreu DH
Isiah Kiner-Falefa 3B
Marcelo Mayer 2B
Nick Sogard 1B
Vinny Capra SS
Jason Delay C
Brayan Bello RHP
How to watch
When: 1:05 p.m.
Where: CoolToday Park, North Port, Fla.
Broadcast info: NESN, NESN 360, WEEI 850 AM