The Red Sox Are Sending Out A Major League Lineup On Wednesday
BOSTON (CBS) -- The regular season is just over a week away, so Red Sox skipper Alex Cora is sending out a potential preview of his Opening Day lineup on Wednesday. All of Boston's big bats are in the lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Atlanta Braves in Fort Myers, Florida.
That includes Trevor Story, who will make his Red Sox debut on Wednesday. The second baseman is set to bat sixth, which may be a little higher than where he slots in for the majority of the regular season. But Cora sounded pretty excited to have a bat of Story's caliber -- plus a gifted baserunner -- batting sixth.
"Trevor is another bat, and it really doesn't matter where we put him," Cora said Wednesday. "It's still a dangerous lineup. I'm looking forward to give him free will to do what he wants in the basepaths in that spot."
Story mostly hit third last season for the Rockies, but that slot belongs to Xander Bogaerts (as does the shortstop position). For his career, Story has mostly been a No. 2 hitter, while getting a lot of looks at cleanup and fifth in the order as well. He's hit sixth in just 46 games during his career.
Cora said he would maybe have Story hit second against lefties, but he is also amped about having Rafael Devers in the two-spot.
"I'm loving Raffy hitting second. He loved it in 2019, and there are a few times he might hit lower. But against righties, that is probably where he's going to be," said Cora, hinting that Devers could hit cleanup against lefties.
Here is the lineup that the Red Sox will send out against the Braves on Wednesday:
1. Enrique Hernandez, CF
2. Rafael Devers, 3B
3. Xander Bogaerts, SS
4. J.D. Martinez, DH
5. Alex Verdugo, LF
6. Trevor Story, 2B
7. Bobby Dalbec, 1B
8. Jackie Bradley Jr., RF
9. Christian Vazquez, C
-- Tanner Houck, SP
The Red Sox are 7-5 this spring, with seven games remaining before Opening Day in New York on April 7.