BOSTON — With Wilyer Abreu still unavailable two days after leaving Sunday’s loss with calf tightness, the Red Sox are using a different-looking defensive alignment against a right-handed starter Tuesday night.

With Abreu out and Roman Anthony in right field, Boston is starting Masataka Yoshida in left field for just the fourth time this season. He’s hitting fifth. Newcomer Nathaniel Lowe, who joined the club as a free agent, will serve as the designated hitter and hit seventh. Ceddanne Rafaela isn’t playing, so Romy Gonzalez is the second baseman. Abraham Toro is at first base and Connor Wong is catching instead of Carlos Narváez.

Abreu is still a candidate for the injured list but the Red Sox are hopeful he can return Thursday in New York.

“He’s doing OK. Better,” said manager Alex Cora. “Walking better. Still day-to-day.”

Regularly, Cora has been using Rafaela as the second baseman against right-handed pitchers but Gonzalez will start for the second straight night. Yoshida hasn’t started in the outfield since August 5. Lowe made his Sox debut as a pinch-hitter late in Monday’s loss and walked in his lone plate appearance.

Rafaela, who has hit .194 with a .489 OPS in 28 games since the All-Star break, is being unplugged from the lineup as part of a mental re-set.

“There’s a lot there right now so I think a mental day will help him,” Cora said. “I think mechanics-wise, he’s off.

“We’ll work on a few things,” Cora said. “Tomorrow’s an off day so hopefully he can get two (full days off) and be ready for Thursday.”

Cora explained that Toro is at first base instead of Lowe, a former Gold Glover, due to Toro’s versatility. If Alex Bregman needs to be replaced during the game for some reason, Toro can slide to third base and the Red Sox wouldn’t lose the DH spot.

Boston will try to avoid a two-game series sweep against Baltimore. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. at Fenway.

Righty Walker Buehler (7-7, 5.43 ERA) will start for Boston opposite right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (10-5, 4.13 ERA). Buehler, who took the loss in his last outing last week in Houston, is believed to be on thin ice in the rotation mix after months of struggles.

The Red Sox will then have Wednesday off before starting a four-game series at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night.

Related: Stream the Red Sox live on NESN via FuboTV or DirecTV Stream

BALTIMORE ORIOLES (58-67) @ BOSTON RED SOX (68-58) · FENWAY PARK · BOSTON, MA · GAME 127

FIRST PITCH: 7:10 p.m. ET

TV CHANNEL: NESN

RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM

PITCHING PROBABLES:RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (10-5, 4.13 ERA) vs. RHP Walker Buehler (7-7, 5.43 ERA)

RED SOX LINEUP:

1) RF Roman Anthony

2) 3B Alex Bregman

3) CF Jarren Duran

4) SS Trevor Story

5) LF Masataka Yoshida

6) 2B Romy Gonzalez

7) DH Nathaniel Lowe

8) 1B Abraham Toro

9) C Connor Wong

ORIOLES LINEUP:

1) 2B Jackson Holliday

2) 3B Luis Vázquez

3) SS Gunnar Henderson

4) DH Ryan Mountcasle

5) CF Colton Cowser

6) 1B Coby Mayo

7) RF Dylan Beavers

8) LF Dylan Carlson

9) C Alex Jackson

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