Rob

Refsnyder

Refsnyder has spent the last four seasons with the Red Sox, all of which he served in a part-time role, playing primarily against lefties. That is where the 34-year-old shines, slashing .302/.399/.560 against lefties last year with seven home runs and a .259 ISO. However, for his career, Refsnyder hits just .229/.301/.332 against righties with a 25 percent strikeout rate. The Mariners will use him on the short side of a platoon with Dominic Canzone, who could open as the starting designated hitter.

Abreu had started each of his team’s first three games since returning from the injured list, so they’ll give him a breather as they ease him back into full-time action. Rob Refsnyder will start in his place in right field and will bat eighth for the Red Sox against Louis Varland and the Blue Jays.

Both veterans were originally meant to be short-side platoon players for the Red Sox, but have been thrust into larger roles with injuries to Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Marcelo Mayer. Refsnyder has hit .265 in 11 games this month with two home runs and seven RBI, while Gonzalez has hit .340 in 12 games in September with one home run and seven RBI. David Hamilton will start at second base and Nate Eaton will start in right field on Thursday.

Refsnyder’s homer off Jeffrey Springs was somehow hit 463 feet. His previous high this year was 410 feet, and his previous career high was 436, which he set in 2015 while facing the Red Sox and playing for the Yankees and equaled in 2022 while playing for the Red Sox and facing the Yankees. Refsnyder is batting .281/.361/.500 as one of the game’s best lefty mashers, but he’ll probably be right back on the bench Wednesday against a righty.

With left-hander Cade Povich on the mound for the Orioles, the Red Sox are going with a right-handed-heavy lineup, which includes Refsnyder at DH and batting fifth. Jhostynxon Garcia is also starting in left field and batting ninth, while Nate Eaton will play centerfield and bat sixth.

Abreu is going to need more time than initially anticipated as he works his way back from a calf strain. It’s unclear how the roster will shake out with Rob Refsnyder (oblique) set to return from the injured list on Thursday. The obvious move involves jettisoning top prospect Jhostynxon Garcia back to the minors, but that’s the least exciting one for fantasy purposes.

The Red Sox are not slated to face a left-handed starting pitcher until the final game of the series on Thursday against Cade Povich, so it would make sense for Refsnyder, who is used almost exclusively against lefties, to be activated for that game. Sadly, that could mean the end of Jhostynxon Garcia’s time on the active roster for now, since the rookie has not been playing against right-handed pitching in his brief stint with the team.

It’s unclear when Refsnyder got hurt. He hadn’t started since Aug. 4 because the Red Sox have been facing only right-handers of late. His last appearance came as a pinch-hitter on Wednesday.

Duran takes a seat against a tough left-hander with Red Sox manager Alex Cora rolling with Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu in the outfield. It’ll be Rob Refsnyder at DH and occupying the leadoff spot with Anthony batting third for the second straight contest.

It feels like a matchup-specific adjustment from manager Alex Cora since Anthony has batted leadoff in five consecutive games. The 21-year-old rookie sensation, who delivered a walk-off hit to center field during the 10th inning of Friday’s series opener, has been moved to the heart of the lineup with Romy Gonzalez leading off and Rob Refsnyder in the cleanup spot to face Astros rookie southpaw Colton Gordon. Meanwhile, Jarren Duran has been dropped to seventh in the order for this one after hitting third in five straight contests and Wilyer Abreu is on the bench.