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Have Red Sox considered dropping Jarren Duran (.174, .528 OPS) from leadoff spot? Chad Tracyanswers
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- Have Red Sox considered dropping Jarren Duran (.174, .528 OPS) from leadoff spot? Chad Tracyanswers
ATLANTA — Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran is hitting .174 with four homers, six doubles, a .528 OPS and 26.2% strikeout rate so far this season. Yet in a sputtering Boston offense, he continues leading off.
In 27 games before Alex Cora was fired, Duran led off just four times — and they were all games in which Roman Anthony was out of the lineup. Things changed when interim manager Chad Tracy took over on April 26 and installed a new order with Duran hitting first and Anthony hitting third. Sunday will mark the 17th time in 18 games that Duran has led off.
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The lineup switch hasn't helped Duran, who despite homering three times in a four-game span to start the month, has slumped tremendously. Before leading off Saturday's win with a double off Bryce Elder, Duran was in a 3-for-37 (.081) funk with one double and 12 strikeouts in a nine-game stretch dating back to May 5. The two-bagger snapped an 0-for-18 skid .
The Red Sox might have already dropped Duran lower in the order if Anthony — out since May 5 with a sprained ligament in his finger — were healthy.
"I think you look at it, right? He has gone through it," said interim manager Chad Tracy. "He took some better swings last night. When you get Roman (back), it's worth more of a conversation but I do believe in Jarren. I know it can get frustrating and believe me, there's probably nobody more frustrated than him. I also know who Jarren Duran is and what he can be and so does this fan base."
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Without Anthony, the Red Sox don't have many great candidates for the leadoff spot on their roster. Only one player other than Duran or Anthony has led off this season, with Ceddanne Rafaela doing it on two occasions. He has had a good start to May, hitting .320 with three homers and a .922 OPS in 14 games.
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With Anthony likely due back sometime at the end of the week , Tracy might stay the course with Duran in the No. 1 spot, though someone like Rafaela could emerge as a candidate if Tracy wants to shake things up. For now, though, the Red Sox will hope to bank on Duran's upside, two years removed from the 29-year-old being the team's best hitter.
"He leads off the game with a double last night. Instant improvement," Tracy said. "I get it, but where we're at right now, if we can get that guy on base and get him going, he can be a key, key part of this offense so we have to keep pushing him to do so."
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