Wilyer

Abreu

Abreu was certainly expected to be in the lineup, but that’s a little higher placement than we’d have guessed. Today’s lineup: RF Ronald Acuña Jr., 1B Luis Arraez, CF Jackson Chourio, LF Abreu, 3B Maikel Garcia, DH Eugenio Suárez, C William Contreras, 2B Gleyber Torres and SS Andrés Giménez. Willson Contreras is on the bench, even though he’d seem to be a clear upgrade over Arraez.

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).

Anthony will get a few exhibition games under his belt with the Red Sox before joining Team USA for next month’s World Baseball Classic. The 21-year-old on-base machine’s perch atop Boston’s formidable lineup, which features offseason acquisition Willson Contreras in the heart of the order, makes it easy to project him as an impact fantasy contributor in the runs scored department. His ability to generate consistent hard contact, as evidenced by a 94.5 mph average exit velocity — the highest single-season mark by a hitter under the age of 22 in the Statcast era — portend immediate success at the highest level as a power-hitting table-setter. He’ll be an early-round pick in all fantasy drafts this spring. Here’s the full lineup: Anthony (RF), Ceddanne Rafaela (CF), Wilyer Abreu (DH), Contreras (1B), Masataka Yoshida (LF), Connor Wong (C), Andruw Monasterio (3B), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (SS) and Brendan Rodgers (2B).

Passan notes that the Red Sox “are valuing Duran more like the seven-win player of 2024 than his 4-win version in 2025"; however, he also notes that Duran “has a ton of trade value because he’s still in his 20s and has three years of control.” Even if 2024 was an outlier, Duran has elite baserunning abilities and has been a solid run-producer atop the Red Sox lineup. With Wilyer Abreu proving to be a better defender and also being younger, it seems more likely that the Red Sox deal Duran this winter.

Those two are joined by Steven Kwan in the outfield. Other AL winners include pitcher Max Fried, catcher Dillon Dingler, first baseman Ty France, second baseman Marcus Semien, third baseman Maikel Garcia, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and utilityman Mauricio Dubón. Semien getting the nod over Andrés Giménez seems like the biggest upset, though Giménez, who won the previous three years, did miss a bunch of time. Dingler over Alejandro Kirk also rates as a modest surprise.

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.

The Red Sox used Masataka Yoshida in right field on Sunday, but order is restored now. Abreu is batting eighth tonight after striking out all four times up on Sunday.

The Red Sox had been hopeful that Abreu would be able to return earlier in the week, but they also wanted to make sure that he was feeling 100 percent and didn’t want to rush him back into action prematurely. Ali Sanchez was designated for assignment in a corresponding move to clear a spot on the team’s active roster.

There’s still hope that he could return for Sunday’s series finale, but it’s more likely that he’s activated for the Red Sox’ upcoming series against the Blue Jays in Toronto that starts on Tuesday.

He’s slated to work out at Fenway tomorrow morning. Abreu still seems to be nearing a return from his calf strain, but that’s been the case for several days now and it obviously hasn’t happened.