Slumping Red Sox Shake Up Starting Lineup Vs. Astros Amid Early Offensive Funk originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

With the Boston Red Soxmired in an early offensive slump, Alex Cora is shaking things up against the Houston Astros on Tuesday.

Advertisement

Following Monday’s 8-1 road loss to the Astros, Caleb Durbin, Jarren Duran and Carlos Narvaez will start Tuesday’s game on the bench.

Andruw Monasterio will replace Durbin at third base and bat sixth. Monasterio went 1-for-2 with a double off the bench in his Red Sox debut on Sunday, but this will be his first start in a Boston uniform.

Masataka Yoshida will replace Duran at DH and bat third. He’s hitless in six plate appearances this year but has shown a good batting eye with three walks.

Connor Wong will spell Narvaez behind the plate and hit eighth. He’s 2-for-4 with a double in two games to begin the year.

The Red Sox are hoping these moves can give their slumbering lineup a spark and help end their three-game losing streak. Boston has struggled to generate offense in the early going, scoring just 11 runs and batting .226/.316/.350 over its first four games.

Advertisement

Durbin and Duran have both struggled to begin the year, so perhaps they could use a reset. Durbin is 0-for-14 and is still searching for his first hit with the Red Sox, while Duran is 0-for-8 over his last three games.

Narvaez has been one of Boston’s best hitters so far with four hits in nine at-bats, but he’ll get a breather to help him stay fresh. He’s yet to play on consecutive days this season.

The Red Sox draw a tough matchup tonight against Astros ace Hunter Brown, who finished third in the AL Cy Young race last season and is coming off a nine-strikeout performance on Opening Day. They’ll try to give Brayan Bello some run support in his season debut.

More MLB: Report: Former Red Sox All-Star Being Hired By National League Team