BOSTON — Alex Cora said Jarren Duran “is not feeling well” and has been scratched from the Red Sox lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Cleveland Indians.
Cora said Duran was going through testing but the team didn’t have results back yet.
“We’ll know more later today or in the third inning. He doesn’t feel great today so we’ll go through the process,” Cora said.
Duran was originally in the lineup in center field but was scratched causing several players to shift spots. Alex Verdugo moved from left field to center. Kyle Schwarber moved from first base to left field. Bobby Dalbec entered the lineup at first base.
The Red Sox have had seven players and nine members of the traveling party test positive in recent weeks forcing the team to scramble to field lineups each night.
Yairo Muñoz, Xander Bogaerts, Kiké Hernández, Martin Pérez, Matt Barnes, Christian Arroyo, Hirokazu Sawamura, quality control coach Ramón Vázquez and strength and conditioning coach Kiyoshi Momose all have tested positive. Josh Taylor and first base coach Tom Goodwin are quarantining after being identified as close contacts.
“I hate putting timetables. I have a pretty good idea, kind of,” Cora said. “Hopefully (Hernandez) in the beginning of next week, Christian in the middle of next week and Xander at the end of next week. That’s where we’re at right now. But things might change.”
Cora said Connor Seabold and Kutter Crawford, who’d both been scratched from starts in Worcester have been saved in case further COVID positive cases forces Boston to need more pitchers.
Red Sox lineup:
Kyle Schwarber LF
Rafael Devers 3B
J.D. Martinez DH
Alex Verdugo CF
Hunter Renfroe RF
Kevin Plawecki C
Bobby Dalbec 1B
Jack López 2B
Jonathan Araúz SS
Pitching matchup: Nathan Eovaldi (10-8, 3.71) vs. Cal Quantrill (4-7, 2.93)
Related content:
Ad Choices