Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Will move to second base
Rotowire
Rafaela is expected to move to second base Saturday, when shortstop Trevor Story (shoulder) will be activated off the 60-day injured list, MLB.com reports.
Second base has been a revolving door all season for the Red Sox, whose second basemen have combined for league lows in batting average (.196) and OPS (.535). The position had been designated for Vaughn Grissom, but his injuries, setbacks and performance in the minors prevented that plan from being executed. Rafaela, whose two-run home run was the winning blow Friday, has slumped of late, going 5-for-36 (.139) with 14 strikeouts over the last 11 contests.
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Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Day off Wednesday
Rotowire
Rafaela is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
It marks the third day off since the beginning of last week for Rafaela, who has just a .508 OPS and 19:0 K:BB over his last 18 games. Nick Sogard will play shortstop and Jarren Duran will be in center field for the Red Sox on Wednesday.
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Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Taking seat Sunday
Rotowire
Rafaela is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Rafaela started the previous five games but will sit Sunday after going 2-for-16 with a double and a homer during that span. Nick Sogard will receive a start at shortstop while Romy Gonzalez mans the keystone.
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Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Provides winning knock
Rotowire
Rafaela went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 7-5 extra-inning win over the Tigers.
Boston's bullpen blew another late-game lead, but the Red Sox were rescued by Rafaela, who launched a two-run homer in the 10th inning. The home run was the 14th for Rafaela after he went 24 games without a long ball.
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Getting rest Monday night
Rotowire
Rafaela is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.
Rafaela will get a breather after he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts while playing eight innings in the field in the Red Sox's 4-1 loss earlier Monday in the resumption of a game that had been suspended June 26 due to inclement weather. Mickey Gasper will pick up a start in the middle infield for the nightcap while Rafaela rests up.
Rafaela went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Orioles.
Rafaela delivered Boston's first run with an eighth-inning single. The Red Sox had been 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position at that point. Rafaela is batting .321 (34-of-106) in 28 games since the All-Star break but has just two extra-base hits and seven RBI over that same stretch.
Rafaela went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Friday's 11-6 win over Texas.
Rafaela stretched Boston's lead to 9-3 with a two-run homer in the sixth inning. It was his 13th home run, and he's chipped in 57 RBI as the team's nine-hole hitter. Rafaela has hit safely in 12 of 13 games coming out of the All-Star break, going 17-for-52 (.327).
