
Parkston Rays begin amateur baseball title defense looking to build on 2025 breakthrough
Parkston Rays begin their title defense in 2025 amateur baseball season after last year's championship win.
The Red Sox are without Trevor Story and Masataka Yoshida as they face the Braves. Andruw Monasterio will start at shortstop, and Mickey Gasper is the designated hitter against Spencer Strider.
ATLANTA — As the Red Sox open a three-game series against the Braves on Friday, two of their highest-paid position players are on the bench.
Andruw Monasterio is starting at shortstop over Trevor Story and Mickey Gasper, not Masataka Yoshida, is the designated hitter against Atlanta righty Spencer Strider. Gasper will hit second with Ceddanne Rafaela in the No. 5 spot and Monasterio is hitting seventh. Carlos Narváez catching rookie Connelly Early.
Interim manager Chad Tracy has given Story a series of days off since taking over in late April and Friday will be another after the shortstop went 3-for-10 with a homer and two strikeouts in three games against the Phillies. It’s Monasterio’s fifth start of the year at short.
Yoshida has hit .133 (2-for-15) with a .411 OPS in a six-game sample and Tracy likes having Gasper’s bat in the order. Gasper is 5-for-12 with two doubles in four games since being recalled last week.
On the mound, Early will look to continue a strong stretch. With seven shutout innings last Friday against Tampa Bay, the southpaw lowered his ERA to 3.16 through eight starts. Opponents are hitting just .211 off him.
First pitch is at 7:15 p.m. ET.
Trevor Story is receiving a day off as part of a series of rest days given by interim manager Chad Tracy.
Masataka Yoshida has struggled recently, hitting .133 with a .411 OPS over a six-game sample.
Andruw Monasterio is starting at shortstop for the Red Sox in place of Trevor Story.

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BOSTON RED SOX (18-25) vs. ATLANTA BRAVES (30-14) · TRUIST PARK · ATLANTA, GA · GAME 44
FIRST PITCH: 7:15 p.m.
TV CHANNEL: NESN
RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM
PITCHING PROBABLES: LHP Connelly Early (3-2, 3.16 ERA) vs. RHP Spencer Strider (1-0, 2.89 ERA)
RED SOX LINEUP:
BRAVES LINEUP:
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