UPDATE: Less than 25 minutes before first pitch, the Red Sox announced a new defensive alignment for Friday’s game. Rookie Jhostynxon Garcia, who is making his major league debut, will do so in right field instead of center field.
In the trio of moves, original right fielder Roman Anthony moved to the designated hitter slot. Garcia moved from center field to right field. Nate Eaton, who was the original DH, moved to right field. Everyone stayed in the same spot in the batting order.
No explanation was given. A Red Sox spokesman said Alex Cora will provide clarification after the game.
NEW RED SOX LINEUP:
1) 1B Romy Gonzalez
2) 3B Alex Bregman
3) DH Roman Anthony
4) SS Trevor Story
5) RF Jhostynxon Garcia
6) LF Jarren Duran
7) 2B Ceddanne Rafaela
8) CF Nate Eaton
9) C Connor Wong
***
NEW YORK — As the Red Sox try to pick up their second win in as many nights Friday in the Bronx, they’ll do so with their newest player making his major league debut.
Jhostynxon “The Password” Garcia will debut against Yankees lefty Max Fried in the second game of a four-game set at Yankee Stadium. He’s playing center field and hitting fifth. The Red Sox didn’t use Garcia in their 6-3 win Thursday night but plan to start him against lefties while he’s in the majors.
Garcia, 22, hit .283 with three homers and a .964 OPS in a limited sample against left-handed pitchers in the minors this season. He’ll face a tough first opponent in Fried, though New York’s $218 million man has a 5.03 ERA in 68 innings over his last 12 starts.
Against a lefty, Romy Gonzalez is leading off for the fifth time this season; he’s starting at first base. Ceddanne Rafaela is at second base after playing center field Friday, Nate Eaton is the designated hitter (and hitting eighth) and Connor Wong is catching righty Brayan Bello.
Bello, who owns a career 2.21 ERA in nine starts against the Yankees, will look to continue that dominance on the mound. Boston is 6-1 against its chief rivals this year and can clinch the season series (and a tiebreaker, for playoff seeding purposes) with one more victory.
First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. ET. The game is on NESN.
BOSTON RED SOX (68-59) @ NEW YORK YANKEES (69-58) · YANKEE STADIUM · BRONX, NY · GAME 129
FIRST PITCH: 7:05 p.m. ET
TV CHANNEL: NESN, MLB Network (out of market only)
RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM
PITCHING PROBABLES: RHP Brayan Bello (9-6, 3.23 ERA) vs. LHP Max Fried (13-5, 3.26 ERA)
RED SOX LINEUP:
1) 1B Romy Gonzalez
2) 3B Alex Bregman
3) RF Roman Anthony
4) SS Trevor Story
5) CF Jhostynxon Garcia
6) LF Jarren Duran
7) 2B Ceddanne Rafaela
8) DH Nate Eaton
9) C Connor Wong
YANKEES LINEUP:
1) CF Trent Grisham
2) 1B Ben Rice
3) DH Aaron Judge
4) RF Cody Bellinger
5) 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
6) LF Jasson Domínguez
7) SS Anthony Volpe
8) 3B Ryan McMahon
9) C Austin Wells
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