SAN FRANCISCO — Outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela has been wielding the hottest bat in the Red Sox lineup of late, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he’s been moved up in the team’s batting order.
Rafaela had three hits — a single, double and homer — Friday night and is hitting .333 since May 27. More recently, however, he’s been hitting either eighth or ninth in the order.
Jarren Duran, who had started every game in the outfield but two, is the DH on Saturday. He hasn’t filled that role since 2023.
With Duran off his feet for the day, Roman Anthony slides over to play left field. In the seven games he had started this season since his promotion from Worcester, Anthony has played only right field.
For the second straight day, Abraham Toro is getting the start at first base for the Red Sox. And with a quick turnaround following Friday night’s game, Connor Wong is behind the plate with Carlos Narvaez getting some rest.
A win Saturday would give the Red Sox their fifth straight series win.
BOSTON RED SOX (40-37) @ SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (42-34) · ORACLE PARK · BOSTON, MA · GAME 78
FIRST PITCH: 4:05 p.m. ET
TV CHANNEL: NESN
RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM
PITCHING PROBABLES: RHP Brayan Bello (3-1, 3.49 ERA) vs. RHP Landen Roupp (4-5, 3.99 ERA)
RED SOX LINEUP:
1) DH Jarren Duran
2) 1B Abraham Toro
3) LF Roman Anthony
4) SS Trevor Story
5) RF Wilyer Abreu
6) CF Ceddanne Rafaela
7) 3B Marcelo Mayer
8) C. Connor Wong
9) 2B David Hamilton
GIANTS LINEUP:
1) RF Mike Yastrzemski
2) DH Rafael Devers
3) LF Heliot Ramos
4) SS Willy Adames
5) 1B Dominic Smith
6) 3B Casey Schmitt
7) CF Daniel Johnson
8) 2B Tyler Fitzgerald
9) C Andrew Knizner