Red Sox's Alex Verdugo: In mix at leadoff versus righties
Rotowire
Verdugo and Triston Casas will both be used in the leadoff spot versus right-handed pitching this season, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com on Friday.
Cora plans to "mix and match" in the leadoff spot, at least initially, until someone shows they can handle it regularly. Enrique Hernandez and Christian Arroyo will get looks in the leadoff spot versus left-handers. Whoever is batting leadoff that particular day will be followed by Rafael Devers, Justin Turner and Masataka Yoshida.
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Red Sox's Alex Verdugo: May run more in 2023
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Boston manager Alex Cora mentioned Verdugo and Enrique Hernandez as players he'd like to see steal more bases this season, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
With the addition of bigger bases -- the distance between bases is reduced by four-and-a-half inches -- along with a new limit on the number of pickoff attempts per batter, Cora is hoping the Red Sox can take advantage. Verdugo stole one base (but was caught three times) in 2022 and swiped six the previous year. The manager plans to have his staff emphasize certain baserunning techniques to improve the team's production in that category. Boston ranked next-to-last in 2021 with 40 steals and 26th last season with 52. Cora also wants to be careful not to get too reckless at Fenway Park, a venue that has historically boosted offense and made baserunners more valuable.
Verdugo agreed to a one-year, $6.3 million contract with the Red Sox on Friday to avoid arbitration, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
Verdugo had a .280/.328/.405 slash line with 11 home runs and 74 RBI in 152 games for Boston last season. He's entering his penultimate season before becoming eligible for free agency in 2025.
Verdugo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Verdugo has an .860 OPS with two home runs, four doubles and eight RBI over his past 11 contests and will step out of the lineup for Sunday's game. Abraham Almonte will take over in right field for the series finale at Toronto.
Verdugo went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Orioles.
Verdugo accounted for two of Boston's three runs Wednesday with an RBI single in the bottom of the first to put the Red Sox up 1-0 and a solo home run in the sixth to improve the lead to 3-0. The long ball was his 11th on the season and fourth in September. Verdugo is slashing .284/.332/.412 through 146 games this season with 70 runs and 74 RBI.
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Red Sox's Alex Verdugo: Out of Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Verdugo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.
Verdugo has a modest five-game hit streak during which he's gone 7-for-21 with a home run, five RBI and nine strikeouts, but he'll take a seat Sunday with lefty Nestor Cortes pitching for New York. Rob Refsnyder will start in center field and bat fifth in the series finale.
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Red Sox's Alex Verdugo: Brings Sox back briefly
Rotowire
Verdugo went 2-for-4 with a double and a three-run home run in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Yankees.
With two strikes on him, Verdugo didn't offer at a 99.4 mph four-seamer from Gerrit Cole, which was called a ball. He then belted the next pitch -- 99.5 mph fastball -- that caught too much of the plate to knot the game at four runs apiece in the sixth inning. After the frame, both Cole and New York manager Aaron Boone were ejected for arguing the pitch before the blast. The homer was Verdugo's 10th and gave him 70 RBI, which ranks second on the team behind Rafael Devers.
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Red Sox's Alex Verdugo: Out of Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Verdugo is not in Sunday's lineup against the Royals.
Verdugo is hitting .263/.354/.386 with two home runs in 14 games this month. Rob Refsnyder is getting the start in right field, batting fifth.
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Red Sox's Alex Verdugo: Scores twice in win
Rotowire
Verdugo went 2-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's win over Baltimore.
Verdugo scored on a Rafael Devers homer in the first inning, then again on a Devers single in the fourth. Verdugo also knocked in Kevin Plawecki on a fourth-inning single of his own. The outfielder has six multi-hit performances this month and has racked up two homers, three RBI and 10 runs scored. Over that span, he is slashing .333/.409/.513.
