BOSTON — As the Red Sox return home Friday after a tough week-long road trip, Ceddanne Rafaela will be in his natural position and Masataka Yoshida isn’t in the lineup.

Rafaela is in center field against the Marlins and righty Sandy Alcantara with Roman Anthony serving as the designated hitter and Jarren Duran in left field in Friday’s series opener. Effectively, manager Alex Cora picked Romy Gonzalez (playing second base) over Yoshida, who is sitting. Gonzalez has been starting more against right-handed pitchers and will do so again against Alcantara, a former National League Cy Young winner (2022) who has struggled throughout the year.

Rafaela, a superb defensive center fielder , has made 14 starts at second base since Marcelo Mayer sprained his wrist. Bizarrely, Rafaela has hit .2

See Full Page