Jahmai

Jones

Jones receives an opportunity to face Yankees veteran southpaw Carlos Rodón in the front-end of Saturday’s twin bill in New York. It’s just his third start since the beginning of August. His only real path to a potential postseason roster spot with the Red Sox is to show he can do damage against left-handed pitching.

No word yet on the reason for the move. Jones has been replaced by Mickey Gasper at DH with Nick Sogard moving up to the leadoff spot to face Arizona lefty Mitch Bratt.

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.

Duran takes a seat with lefty Jacob Lopez drawing the starting assignment in this one. It’ll be Jahmai Jones taking over in left field. He’ll continue sitting against the occasional southpaw, but Roman Anthony’s ongoing absence means he’ll continue playing pretty much everyday in Boston.

Jones also stole a base and came around to score on Wilyer Abreu’s double two batters later. He finds himself in a weak-side platoon role with Boston, but his propensity for pulling the ball in the air should fit well at Fenway. It’s also worth considering what the team’s recent acquisition of Curtis Mead could mean for Jones’ playing time going forward.

Making his first start for the Red Sox, Jones hit a two-run homer off Ian Seymour in the second, only to find himself replaced by Jarren Duran after a right-hander entered the game in the fourth. The homer came in Jones’s second at-bat since being picked him up from the Tigers. He had two in 105 plate appearances for Detroit designated him for assignment.

Jones will make his Red Sox debut, weather permitting, against Tampa Bay lefty Ian Seymour after being acquired from the Tigers in a trade earlier this week. The 28-year-old has had success in a lefty-mashing platoon role in previous years, so Boston’s front office is rolling the dice that a change of scenery does the trick. It’ll be Jarren Duran on the bench to open this one as the Red Sox try for their 12th consecutive victory.

Jones, 28, was great in his platoon role for the Tigers last season, hitting .287/.387/.550 with seven homers in 150 plate appearances. However, he was all of the way down to .137/.219/.221 in 105 plate appearances this year before losing his spot last week. Like the Tigers did, the Red Sox figure to use him exclusively against lefties, mostly in left field and at DH. He probably isn’t more than a desperation option at second base these days.

Jones has struggled mightily this year, but it’s possible he’ll go back to being useful against lefties. He’s out of options, so he’ll go on the major league roster and probably take Nate Eaton’s spot on Boston’s bench.

Jones has been shockingly bad for the Tigers this year, hitting .137/.219/.221 in 105 plate appearances, including .154/.250/.256 against left-handers. He hit .288/.393/.577 against lefties last year in 122 plate appearances. Still just 28, it’s possible he gets claimed off waivers.