Trevor

Story

Once again, Roman Anthony is in the leadoff spot, he’s just serving as the designated hitter while Jarren Duran patrols the outfield. The only difference between Sunday’s lineup and what the team had been expected to use on Opening Day is Isiah Kiner-Falefa is in there at second base while Marcelo Mayer is riding the pine. He really will need to earn his spot this spring. Here’s the full lineup for Sunday: Roman Anthony (DH), Trevor Story (SS), Jarren Duran (LF), Willson Contreras (1B), Wilyer Abreu (RF), Caleb Durbin (3B), Ceddanne Rafaela (CF), Carlos Narvaez (C), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2B).

That doesn’t seem like a great plan. Story made a nice comeback last season, but it resulted in only a .308 OBP. He’s at .302 in the four years since he signed with the Red Sox. Still, one assumes he’ll hit second initially now, with Roman Anthony and Jarren Duran flanking him ahead of Willson Contreras in the cleanup spot. It’d make more sense to bat him sixth, assuming that the Red Sox think Caleb Durbin will perform like he did last year (and they presumably wouldn’t have traded for him if they didn’t).

Cora added that he’s reserving the right to change his mind, but his initial lineup projection has the newly-acquired veteran slugger occupying the cleanup spot. The 33-year-old’s arrival solves Boston’s first base quagmire and it’s a notable development from a counting stats perspective that he’ll be locked into the middle of their lineup, regardless of whether Alex Bregman returns. He should have plenty of opportunities from a run-production standpoint with Roman Anthony and Trevor Story serving as top-of-the-order table-setters next season. The big question heading into the late stages of the offseason is where Jarren Duran fits into the lineup if he’s on the roster once spring training opens up in early February.

Story could have opted out of the $55 million over two years he had left on his six-year deal with Boston, though if he did that, the Red Sox could have retained him on a three-year, $75 million deal. Considering that the free agent shortstop pool is lacking and he wouldn’t have been eligible for a qualifying offer, Story might have gotten something like that $75 million for three years had he opted out. Still, he seems to like his current situation. The Red Sox are probably content, too, though they should be considering if they’d be better off with Story at second and Marcelo Mayer at short than with the status quo.

Story did everything possible to keep Boston in this one with a two-run single in the third inning before taking Yankees starter Carlos Rodón deep for a game-tying homer a couple frames later. He came up with the bases loaded in the seventh against Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz and wound up flying out to center field in what turned out to be one of the more pivotal at-bats of the low-scoring contest. The two teams will square off in a decisive series finale on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium.

It’s a classic post-playoff clinching lineup from the Red Sox in this one with off days for a quartet of veterans. Story, Bregman and Duran could certainly use a break as they’ve played nearly every day down the home stretch. Boston appears poised to let the chips fall where they may this weekend as they’re pretty much locked into the second AL Wild Card spot.

Story finally got the Red Sox on the board with an RBI single off of Braydon Fisher in the seventh inning that plated Jaren Duran who had doubled. That would be Story’s only hit in the ballgame as well. The 32-year-old shortstop has been outstanding for the Red Sox this season, slashing .267/.312/.439 with 25 homers, 96 RBI and 31 stolen bases (32 attempts) in 645 plate appearances.

Unfortunately, Story gave the two runs he scored on offense back to the A’s while committing two errors in the game. Still, that’s not at all typical of the veteran. Story has been an excellent player for 3 1/2 months now, and he’s been especially good in hitting .373/.413/.610 so far in September.

It’s a critical victory for the Red Sox as they remain in a virtual tie with the Mariners and Astros for the second AL Wild Card spot with just over one week left in the regular season. Story was caught stealing for the first time this season after 31 consecutive successful thefts when he was thrown out attempting to swipe second base to end the eighth inning. The 32-year-old shortstop has been an unexpected revelation this season for fantasy managers with a 24-homer, 31-steal season. It’s his first 20-20 season since back in 2021 when he accomplished the feat in his final year with Colorado.

He’s stolen 30 bases for the first time in his career, and he’s done so without being caught. The only known player in major league history to have that many steals without ever getting caught was Trea Turner, who was 30-for-30 two years ago. Story has 11 games left to top that mark.