In dire need of a spark, Alex Cora makes counterintuitive move by hitting Caleb Durbin second in the Red Sox lineup
ST. LOUIS — In search of something, anything, that could spark the Red Sox’ sluggish — not slugging — lineup, manager Alex Cora has tried something new this weekend: Caleb Durbin in the No. 2 spot.
That is a tad unorthodox through a modern baseball lens, with teams typically putting a very good hitter, maybe their best, in that spot to try to optimize their scoring chances. Already this year, for example, the Sox have faced the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez, the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr., and the Brewers’ William Contreras as the second batter of the game. Aaron Judge slots in there for the Yankees.
Cora has been experimenting since dropping Trevor Story in the order at the start of the week. Masataka Yoshida, Jarren Duran, and Andruw Monasterio got a game each. Durbin, with his high-contact, low-strikeout profile, had his second in a row Saturday night against the Cardinals.
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“He’s not chasing,” Cora said. “When you start doing that, good things are going to happen, and that’s the reason he’s hitting second.”
Durbin entered Saturday mired in a season-opening slump: a .103 average with twice as many strikeouts (eight) as hits (four). His .186 on-base percentage was tied for fourth-worst among qualified hitters in the majors. Story was worse at .136.
But Durbin had struck out just 19 percent of the time, better than all of the Sox’ regulars other than Ceddanne Rafaela (18 percent). He has been similarly effective at not swinging at pitches outside the strike zone and at not missing when he does swing.
An elementary feat central to the Red Sox’ path back from a dire offensive situation: swinging at strikes.
“It’s what we need to do. We have to control the strike zone, we have to take our walks when they pitch around you,” Cora said. “That’s how good things start happening. . . . To get going offensively, you have to chase less. Keep it simple. But obviously that guy on the mound is trying to do a job too. It’s not that easy.
“Durbin, in the Milwaukee series, didn’t chase one pitch. And [Friday], although the results weren’t there, the approach was good.”
Roman Anthony returned to the lineup Saturday — but was the designated hitter again.
He played left field in four of the Sox’ first five games.
Since then, amid his issues with throwing, he has started in left in just two of nine contests.
“It’s not easy, the moving parts, but we’re making it work,” Cora said. “Most likely he’ll play left field [Sunday]. We’ll see what we do in Minnesota. This is a day-to-day thing. . . . There’s no science behind it.”
For now, Triston Casas is shut down indefinitely with what the Red Sox consider an oblique problem.
But they also are checking with a doctor who treated the first baseman’s torn rib cartilage in 2024 to be sure that this isn’t related, per Cora.
“He’s going to be out for a while, but still waiting for news from the doctor,” Cora said.
Kutter Crawford’s first game since 2024 didn’t yield positive results — five runs and six hits in three innings for Triple-A Worcester — but in Cora’s view, that wasn’t the point.
“Like I told him today, enjoy the day,” Cora said at Busch Stadium shortly after Crawford took the mound at Polar Park. “That’s the most important thing. It doesn’t matter. It’s not about results. It’s not about velocity or the shapes of the pitches. It’s about him being able to compete.
“The line can be outstanding or horrible, but the fact that he’s on the mound, it means a lot to him and his family and obviously to the organization, the training staff. They worked very hard to get to this point. And finally, he’s able to go out there.”
Crawford missed all of 2025 because of knee and wrist injuries.
Kiner-Falefa’s long wait
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who totaled 12 plate appearances in the Red Sox’ first 13 games, said he is comfortable biding his time in a backup infield gig (which has been more like a backup-backup role so far). “I’ve been in this role before,” he said. “And even though I’m not playing, I’m still ready. I’m always ready.”. . . More very important journalism on the Red Sox’ new T-shirts depicting Willson Contreras as Bowser: Although Contreras cited Story as the Boston teammate who first started calling him Bowser, Story said he heard it from Nick Sogard during spring training. Why? “Look at him,” Story said. “Strong as hell.”
Tim Healey can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @timbhealey.
