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Red Sox’ Alex Cora about to get Masataka Yoshida plenty of playing time (in OF?)
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- Red Sox’ Alex Cora about to get Masataka Yoshida plenty of playing time (in OF?)
CINCINNATI — One of the big questions entering the Red Sox ' 2026 season: Where does Masataka Yoshida fit and where/when will he play?
Boston has five outfielders, including Yoshida, for only four spots — the three outfield positions and designated hitter.
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Manager Alex Cora has started Jarren Duran at DH in the first two games with Roman Anthony in left field , Ceddanne Rafaela in center field and Wilyer Abreu in right field.
Yoshida, meanwhile, has been the odd-man-out of the starting lineup the first two games. But that’s about to change.
Cora said Saturday that Yoshida will likely start three of Boston’s next five games. He’s expected to start Sunday in Cincinnati (likely at DH), then two of three games against the Astros when the Red Sox play in Houston on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
“It’s not that easy, but I’ll make it work,” Cora said before Saturday’s game. “And I believe Masa is going to play three out of the next five and then everybody will sit some of them. But as far as like the positioning, they’re all good outfielders. I think the only one who’s average is Masa. And we believe in Houston he can play left field there.”
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Yoshida has made 142 of his 147 starts at DH the past two seasons. He has started just five games in the outfield, four in left field and one in right field.
“You cannot just DH Masa because somebody’s not playing,” Cora said. “And when Masa is DH’ing, then we have to take one of the other guys out of the game. So we have to be patient with it. And that’s the reason we need him to play left field. And he will play left field.”
Cora said everyone knows the plan and it will help Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela get some occasional rest so they will be fresh later in the season.
Rafaela struggled offensively during the second half last year while Abreu has had some difficulty staying healthy for a full 162-game season. Abreu made two trips to the 10-day injured list last year with a left oblique strain and right calf strain. He dealt with some hamstring issues in the minors.
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“They know the plan, so we’ll stick to it. And I think everybody’s going to benefit from it,” Cora said. “We see their past. Roman’s first full season. Jarren posts. He plays. Ceddanne, in August and September, he has struggled. And Wilyer has been banged up. He hasn’t played a full season yet. So I think this whole thing is going to help them.”
Cora plans to use Duran in center field and Anthony in left field on days when Rafaela is not starting. He will use Duran in left field and Anthony in right field when Abreu doesn’t start.
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