Red Sox sit Masataka Yoshida again (5th time in 6 games under Chad Tracy) as role decreases

BOSTON — Before he was fired last Saturday, Alex Cora spent the first few weeks of the Red Sox season trying to find ways to get Masataka Yoshida into the starting lineup. Chad Tracy’s early lineup choices tell a different story.

For the fifth time in six games since Tracy took over as interim manager, Yoshida is out of the lineup Saturday against the Astros. Friday hero Jarren Duran is once again leading off and is the designated hitter with Roman Anthony, after a three-hit game, playing left field. Yoshida is the odd man out with Ceddanne Rafaela (center) and Wilyer Abreu (right) starting against right-hander Spencer Arrighetti.

Yoshida started 12 of Boston’s first 27 games with Cora at the helm, playing left field twice and getting 10 starts at DH. Tracy has started him just once, on Tuesday vs. Toronto. Yoshida has hit .265 with three doubles, five RBIs and a .716 OPS in 59 plate appearances so far.

“It’s not an easy situation. He’s a good hitter, but we’re in the same spot we were. He can hit, but then you look at hte other four guys, too, with the speed and versatility and what they bring to the table. They’ve got to play, so it’s not an easy situation.

I do think one thing is clear: You’re not always gonna use him, but when Masa’s sitting there on the bench and available, if there’s a lane with a righty where they can’t make a move, that’s a good thing for us. Not ideal, but we’ve just got to manage what we have."