Eli White hits three-run homer to lead Red Sox

He’ll be eligible to be back during the last week of the regular season, but that injury listing sounds ominous. White, mostly a defensive caddy with some speed, can be dropped in deeper formats.

With Ceddane Rafaela on the injured list, the Red Sox are shifting Jarren Duran to center field tonight. Nate Eaton could get a more defined role if the Red Sox don’t find Duran’s defense palatable in center and White remains out.

It sounds like it could be a potential injured list situation for White, who is absent from Wednesday’s lineup with right foot soreness, after crashing into the center-field wall during Tuesday’s game against the Angels. It’ll be Nate Eaton taking over in center field with starter Ceddanne Rafaela (quad) still on the injured list. There should be an update on his status at some point later this week.

It’s the fourth consecutive contest that Rafaela has missed due to a lingering quad injury. He’s still hopeful that he’ll be able to avoid a trip to the injured list, but if this lingers into next week the Red Sox may be forced to make a move. Eli White will once again start in his place in center field and will bat ninth against O’s right-hander Kyle Bradish.

It’s not quite time to press the panic button, but fantasy managers can’t be feeling too optimistic with Rafaela sitting out his third consecutive game due to a lingering quad issue. The 25-year-old told reporters earlier this week that he didn’t anticipate a trip to the injured list, but that could change if he’s unable to get back in the lineup for Sunday’s series finale. It’ll be Eli White patrolling center field in his absence.

Duran will get a breather with left-hander Matt Wilkinson toeing the slab for the Giants. Eli White will take his place in left field and will bat eighth for the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.

Yoshida was feeling so under the weather on Sunday that he wasn’t even at the ballpark with his teammates. He’s back in the dugout on Sunday and could be available off the bench. Wilyer Abreu is functioning as the team’s designated hitter on Sunday with Eli White starting in right field and batting eighth against J.T. Ginn and the Athletics.

Abreu receives some extra time off to recover after being hit by a pitch above his shin guard during Friday’s game. It was a bit surprising to see him on the initial lineup card in the first place with rookie left-hander Gage Jump taking the ball for the Athletics. The 27-year-old has put together a phenomenal season, slashing .256/.331/.462 with 20 homers, 62 RBI and seven steals in 429 plate appearances over 113 games. It’ll be Eli White moving over to right field with Jarren Duran getting into the lineup in the opposite corner. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now.

The Red Sox are going to roll with Eli White and Jahmai Jones as their lefty-mashing specialists, in addition to Nick Sogard seeing regular time at second base, with Gonzalez going to the minors in the wake of their trade deadline moves. The 29-year-old infielder has hit just .185 (12-for-65) with one homer, seven RBI and one steal in 19 games this season.

White bolsters Boston’s bench mix and should get some chances against left-handed starters over the final two months. The 32-year-old has been a key role player for Atlanta over the last two years.