Red Sox lineups: Rafael Devers sits out Pirates series opener, but won’t go on injured list

After going 3-7 in their first homestand, the Red Sox hit the road for a weekend in Pittsburgh and a four-game set in Cleveland.

Alex Cora updated reporters that they’ve decided not to put Rafael Devers on the injured list – for now, anyway – but the slugger won’t be in Friday evening’s lineup for the Pirates series opener.

The third baseman only played two of the club’s last seven games, first due to nagging shoulder soreness, and now a bone bruise in his knee. In the likely event that Devers doesn’t get into Friday night’s game at all, he’ll have missed eight of the club’s 21 games thus far.

Tyler O’Neill is traveling with the team as he continues to recover from the concussion he sustained in the collision with Devers during the Marathon Monday game. However, the earliest the outfielder can be activated from the 7-day IL is Tuesday, so Rob Refsnyder, freshly-reinstated from the injured list after fracturing a toe during spring training, makes his first start of the season in right field.

Without Devers and O’Neill, the Red Sox are going for a unique lineup and defensive layout. Ceddanne Rafaela will start at shortstop for the second time this season, so leadoff man Jarren Duran is back to starting in center and Wilyer Abreu, who’s played mostly right field, is in left.

Bobby Dalbec gets the start at third. The struggling infielder is 0-for-19 with one walk and 12 strikeouts on the season.

 

Red Sox lineup (April 19)

Jarren Duran CF

Wilyer Abreu LF

Rob Refsnyder RF

Triston Casas 1B

Connor Wong C

Masataka Yoshida DH

Bobby Dalbec 3B

Enmanuel Valdez 2B

Ceddanne Rafaela SS

Pirates lineup (April 19)

Oneil Cruz SS

Bryan Reynolds RF

Ke’Bryan Hayes 3B

Rowdy Tellez 1B

Andrew McCutchen DH

Jack Suwinski LF

Jared Triolo 2B

Michael A. Taylor CF

Henry Davis C

Red Sox vs. Pirates probably starting pitchers

RHP Brayan Bello vs. RHP Quinn Priester

How to watch Red Sox vs. Pirates (April 19)

When: 6:40 p.m. ET

Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh PA

TV: NESN,

Radio: WEEI 93.7 FM, WCCM 1490 AM (Spanish)

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