Red Sox shake up lineup for Saturday clash with Pirates originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox are searching for an offensive spark, and manager Alex Cora will send out a reshuffled lineup Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Masataka Yoshida will move into the leadoff spot for the middle game at PNC Park. Ceddanne Rafaela returns to center field and will bat second, while Adley Rutschman remains behind the plate and hits third.
Willson Contreras, Wilyer Abreu and Caleb Durbin occupy the next three spots. Jarren Duran will start in left field and bat seventh, followed by shortstop Andruw Monasterio and second baseman Nick Sogard.
Boston announced the complete lineup on social media before the 7:15 p.m. ET first pitch.
Red Sox turn to a different look
Game 2 in Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/UkjbNakNZP
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 15, 2026
Here is the Red Sox lineup against Pirates right-hander Jared Jones:
Masataka Yoshida, DH
Ceddanne Rafaela, CF
Adley Rutschman, C
Willson Contreras, 1B
Wilyer Abreu, RF
Caleb Durbin, 3B
Jarren Duran, LF
Andruw Monasterio, SS
Nick Sogard, 2B
The most noticeable move involves Yoshida, who batted second in Friday’s 8-4 loss. The left-handed hitter now gets the first opportunity to ignite an offense that has struggled during Boston’s recent downturn. Sogard moves from first to ninth despite producing two hits and two RBIs in the series opener. Rafaela, who did not start Friday, replaces Eli White in center field and immediately jumps into the No. 2 spot.
Rutschman will make his second consecutive start after recently returning to Boston’s lineup. The switch-hitting catcher went hitless Friday, but his presence gives Cora another proven threat near the top of the order.
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Sonny Gray tasked with stopping Red Sox slide
The lineup changes arrive with Boston having lost six of its last seven games. The Red Sox fell to 65-57 after Pittsburgh opened the series with an 8-4 victory, continuing a sudden slide after Boston had surged into the postseason race. Sonny Gray will attempt to provide some stability from the mound. The veteran right-hander enters Saturday with a 14-3 record, a 2.79 ERA and 110 strikeouts. He gives Boston an encouraging matchup against Jones, who is 2-4 with a 5.03 ERA.
Pittsburgh will counter with a lineup led by Spencer Horwitz, Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds. Rafael Flores Jr., who homered and drove in two runs Friday, will catch and bat eighth. Boston desperately needs Gray to slow down the Pirates, but the altered batting order also must deliver. After dropping the series opener and six of seven overall, Saturday represents an important opportunity for the Red Sox to regain control before facing Paul Skenes in Sunday’s finale.