Ceddanne Rafaela is absent from the Red Sox lineup on Marathon Monday, with Rob Refsnyder starting in left field against White Sox righty Jonathan Cannon. Jarren Duran shifts to center field. Rafaela, despite homering Friday, has struggled, dropping his batting average to .209 in 20 games. Refsnyder has performed well in limited play, batting .350. The Red Sox and White Sox are tied in their season series, each with three wins. Boston has struggled against a weak White Sox team, despite having a better overall record. Today’s game starts at 11:10 a.m. at Fenway Park, featuring Walker Buehler on the mound for Boston.
BOSTON — Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, who has been struggling, will not be part of the Red Sox lineup on Marathon Monday.
Rob Refsnyder, who has only 21 plate appearances and generally plays against left-handed pitchers, is batting eighth and will take the field in left against White Sox right-handed starter Jonathan Cannon (0-2, 4.42 ERA).
The Red Sox will face off against the White Sox at 11:10 a.m. at Fenway Park on Marathon Monday.
Jarren Duran, usually a left fielder, will be starting in center field.
Rafaela hit a home run on Friday, but went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts on Sunday, bringing his slash line down to .209/.284/.299/.582 over 20 games. He has managed just three extra-base hits in 74 plate appearances.
Refsnyder has made the most of his limited opportunities, hitting 7-for-20 (.350) with two doubles. This season, the Red Sox have faced few left-handed starters, leading to Refsnyder having slightly more plate appearances against right-handers (11) compared to left-handers (10).
The winner of today’s game will claim the seven-game season series, with both teams having won three games each.
Last year, Boston narrowly won the season series 4-3, while Chicago struggled with a record of 41-121.
The Red Sox have struggled to defeat a struggling White Sox team. Surprisingly, the White Sox hold a positive run differential of +5 (29 runs scored, 24 runs against) against the Red Sox but have a negative differential of -31 (39 runs scored, 70 runs against) overall against the other five teams they have played (Athletics, Guardians, Tigers, Twins, and Angels).
Right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler (2-1, 5.23 ERA) will oppose Cannon on the mound.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (5-16) @ BOSTON RED SOX (12-11) · FENWAY PARK · BOSTON, MA · GAME 24
FIRST PITCH: 11:10 a.m. ET
TV CHANNEL: NESN
RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM
PITCHING PROBABLES: White Sox RHP Jonathan Cannon (0-2, 4.42 ERA) vs. RHP Walker Buehler (2-1, 5.23 ERA)
RED SOX LINEUP:
- Jarren Duran CF
- Rafael Devers DH
- Alex Bregman 3B
- Trevor Story SS
- Wilyer Abreu RF
- Kristian Campbell 2B
- Triston Casas 1B
- Rob Refsnyder LF
- Carlos Narváez C