


The already shorthanded Red Sox will be even more undermanned than usual on Thursday with both Rafael Devers and Masataka Yoshida out of the lineup for the series finale against Cleveland.
Devers has been dodging numerous injuries over the past week, missing time with a sore shoulder before getting into a scary collision with Tyler O’Neill on Monday and leaving Tuesday’s game early with left knee discomfort. Masataka Yoshida sat out Wednesday’s game as well, though that was explained as a lineup decision given that Devers was serving as the designated hitter.
With O’Neill still out after getting eight stitches above his eye following the collision and Trevor Story out for the season following shoulder surgery, the Red Sox lineup is missing most of its top contributors. Jarren Duran is starting in left field and batting leadoff and Triston Casas is playing first and batting second, but rookie outfielder Wilyer Abreu is batting third and second baseman Enmanuel Valdez is batting cleanup, spots the young players probably wouldn’t have been considered for under normal circumstances.
Left-hander Brennan Bernardino will start Thursday’s game as an opener, likely followed out of the bullpen by right-hander Cooper Criswell. Carlos Carrasco (0-1, 3.55 ERA) will start for the Guardians.
Jarren Duran LF
Triston Casas 1B
Wilyer Abreu RF
Enmanuel Valdez 2B
Connor Wong DH
David Hamilton SS
Pablo Reyes 3B
Reese McGuire C
Ceddanne Rafaela CF
Brennan Bernardino P
When: 1:35 p.m.
Where: Fenway Park, Boston
Broadcast info: NESN, WEEI 93.7 FM, WCCM 1490 AM (Spanish)