The Boston Red Sox will have a new look at the top of their lineup Monday night, with Nick Sogard getting the start at shortstop and leading off against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
Sogard replaces Andruw Monasterio, who is getting a scheduled day off as Boston manages its roster during a demanding stretch of games. The adjustment comes as the Red Sox, 64-53, begin a key American League East series while holding the third AL Wild Card spot.
Masataka Yoshida also returns to the designated hitter role as Boston looks to chip away at Toronto's 6-3 advantage in the season series. A win would also help the Red Sox build momentum before a tougher pitching matchup later in the series.
Red Sox beat writer Chris Cotillo shared the lineup on X before first pitch, confirming Sogard's move to shortstop and the leadoff spot while Monasterio receives the night off. The lineup also features Yoshida back at designated hitter alongside regular starters Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran.
The lineup announcement quickly drew reactions from Boston fans. Some questioned whether Rafaela should also have received a rest day, while others emphasized the importance of winning the opener before a more challenging pitching matchup later in the series.
Several fans also continued calling for newly acquired catcher Adley Rutschman to join the active roster, hoping his arrival could strengthen Boston's lineup during the playoff push.
Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Boston's batting order for the opener features Sogard, Rafaela, Abreu, Willson Contreras, Yoshida, Caleb Durbin, Jarren Duran, Anthony Seigler and Connor Wong.
With every game carrying postseason implications, the Red Sox are balancing player rest with the need to keep pace in the Wild Card race, making Monday's lineup adjustment another example of workload management during a busy August schedule.
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