With anticipation building for the AL Wild Card matchup between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, Manager Alex Cora has strategically tailored his lineup to combat Yankees’ left-handed ace Max Fried. Scheduled to take place at 6:08 p.m. at Yankee Stadium, the game promises a strategic battle as Cora equips his team with right-handed power to counter Fried’s pitching.
Surprisingly, Cora includes left-handed hitter Jarren Duran in the lineup, opting him into left field and placing him in the seventh spot in the batting order. However, Duran stands alone as the only left-handed starter, with Wilyer Abreu, Masataka Yoshida, and Nathaniel Lowe beginning the game on the bench. Addressing this choice, Cora stated, “We’ve been doing it the whole season. So nothing changes,” indicating a consistent approach in lineup decisions.
Statistically, left-handed hitters have demonstrated a higher success rate against Fried this season, with a .674 OPS compared to a .598 OPS for right-handed batters. Leveraging this data, Cora positions Rob Refsnyder as the designated hitter and leadoff man, while Romy Gonzalez takes on the cleanup role at first base. Nate Eaton is slated for right field duties, batting sixth, alongside switch-hitter Nick Sogard, who is tasked with second base and ninth in the lineup. Speaking on the decision to play Sogard over Lowe, Cora highlights Sogard’s impressive .371 average against left-handed pitchers.
While Jarren Duran’s 2023 performance against lefties has been less than stellar—hitting .211 with a .260 on-base percentage—Cora emphasized the importance of defense, particularly in left field. Meanwhile, Masataka Yoshida has been red-hot offensively, boasting a .383 average over his last 12 games, yet he remains minimally exposed to left-handed pitching.
Significant matchups against Fried include Alex Bregman and Trevor Story, both of whom have found previous success against the Yankees ace, adding another layer of tactical intrigue.
Opposing Fried is Boston’s left-handed ace Garrett Crochet, bringing a formidable 18-5 record and a 2.59 ERA to the mound, putting his skills to the test against the Yankees’ lineup as both sides vie for a crucial postseason victory.
With the game broadcasted on ESPN and heard on WEEI 93.7 FM, fans will closely watch the action as the age-old rivals clash once more in what promises to be an electric evening of baseball.