After dropping the series and its finale to the Orioles in Baltimore on Wednesday night, the Red Sox have a fast turnaround.

They’re back at Fenway Park on Thursday evening to host the 27-28 Detroit Tigers for four games.

Ceddanne Rafaela has a night off, so his two positions, centerfield and shortstop, will be manned by Jarren Duran and David Hamilton, respectively.

After moving primarily to the infield when Trevor Story’s season ended in early April, Rafaela has been spending more time in outfield again.

“When Hammy came up here, he struggled defensively, we wanted to slow things down,” Alex Cora explained Thursday afternoon. “(Rafaela) played well at short.”

“He’s playing centerfield now because the other kid is playing great,” Alex Cora said, referring to Hamilton’s improvement. “Hammy’s doing an outstanding job, he’s been able to settle down, and this is our best defensive alignment. When Hammy’s playing the way he is, there’s no hesitation of playing him at short and playing Rafaela in centerfield.”

Moving between the infield and outfield came with some growing pains for Rafaela, who leads the roster with eight errors. (Hamilton’s four rank second.) But for a team that made a slew of defensive miscues and skyrocketed to the top of the Major League error rankings in the days following Story’s season-ending shoulder injury, the rookie’s improved versatility has been a key stabilizing force of late.

“That’s the way we envision him, right? He’s versatile enough,” Cora said of Rafaela. “Obviously, the plan was for him to play every day at centerfield, with Trevor, but we needed to pivot.”

With both Rafaela and Hamilton improving defensive, the Red Sox “can go different routes,” Cora said.

“Overall, versatility is playing for us. I think now it’s just a matter of like, pick and choose,” he added. “Maximize the roster against the opposition.”

Red Sox lineup (May 30)

Jarren Duran CF

Wilyer Abreu RF

Rob Refsnyder LF

Rafael Devers 3B

Connor Wong DH

Garrett Cooper 1B

Reese McGuire C

Vaughn Grissom

David Hamilton SS

Tigers lineup (May 30)

Matt Vierling RF

Riley Greene CF

Mark Canha DH

Gio Urshela 3B

Colt Keith 2B

Akil Baddoo LF

Spencer Torkelson 1B

Javy Báez SS

Carson Kelly C

Red Sox vs. Tigers probable starting pitchers

RHP Nick Pivetta vs. RHP Jack Flaherty

How to watch Red Sox vs. Tigers

When: 7:10 p.m. ET

Where: Fenway Park, Boston

TV: NESN, Bally Sports Detroit (Blackout restrictions may apply)

Red Sox radio: WEEI 93.7 FM, WCCM 1490 AM (Spanish)

Tigers radio: 97.1 The Ticket

Red Sox injury updates

After seeing Dr. Jeffrey Dugas on Wednesday, Garrett Whitlock is undergoing the internal brace surgery on Thursday, Alex Cora announced before the game. This officially ends the right-hander’s season.

The Red Sox placed Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day injured list with right-knee inflammation earlier this week, but Cora doesn’t feel it will be a lengthy absence. “I do believe short-term, nothing structurally,” the manager said. “He’s feeling okay, a few days hopefully can help him out, and hopefully be with us sooner rather than later.”

Masataka Yoshida (thumb) hit off the tee for the first time on Wednesday. “That’s all about feel,” Cora said. “He felt okay yesterday, yeah. He felt good.”

Triston Casas (ribs) is meeting with the doctor Thursday to assess his progression. He’s already doing baseball activities, save for swinging a bat. If all goes well, he’ll be cleared to take that step, he recently told the Herald. “We want to make sure we’re doing it the right way,” Cora said.

May 30 in baseball history

1913: Harry Hooper makes Major League history by leading off both games of a doubleheader with a home run. The Red Sox outfielder’s feat isn’t replicated until 1993 (Rickey Henderson, Oakland A’s).

1932: The Yankees sweep the Red Sox in a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.

1935: In the last Major League game of his career, Babe Ruth plays only the first inning of a doubleheader between the Boston Braves and Phillies in Philadelphia.

1938: The Yankees again sweep the Red Sox in a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.

1961: Red Sox pitcher Gene Conley takes the loss when Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Bill Skowron each homer twice and Yogi Berra homers once in a 12-3 Yankees victory at Fenway. This year, Conley plays for both the Red Sox and Boston Celtics, winning his third consecutive NBA championship. He remains the only man in history to win a World Series (1957 Braves) and an NBA title.

1972: Future Red Sox World Series champion Manny Ramirez is born.

2001: After beating the Yankees, Pedro Martinez drops an iconic soundbite, telling reporters, “I’m starting to hate the Yankees… I don’t believe in curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I’ll drill him in the ass, pardon me the word.”

2013: Jacoby Ellsbury sets a new Red Sox record, stealing five bases in a 9-2 win over the Phillies.

(Sources: Baseball-Reference, SABR, Nationalpastime.com)