Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 30

Red Sox Start Roman Anthony at DH in Wild Card Opener as Yankees Send Cy Young Favorite

Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 30

Red Sox Start Roman Anthony at DH in Wild Card Opener as Yankees Send Cy Young Favorite

Q: Why did Boston move Roman Anthony to DH for the Wild Card opener, and is it a smart postseason adjustment or a warning sign?

Boston moved Roman Anthony to DH mainly to protect his body while keeping one of its highest-upside bats in the lineup. He missed most of the season because of injury, played only 55 games, and Boston has already been using him in a split LF/DH role since his return. In a short postseason series, reducing his defensive workload is a practical way to preserve his swing, limit stress on his recovering hand and wrist area, and avoid exposing him in the field if he is not at full strength. It also improves Boston’s outfield defense. With Anthony at DH, the Red Sox can put Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu across the outfield, which is likely their more athletic alignment. Against a Yankees team and a strong Game 1 starter in Cam Schlittler, Boston is trying to optimize run prevention while still betting on Anthony’s on-base ability at the top of the order. So this looks more like a smart postseason adjustment than a warning sign. Chad Tracy kept Anthony in the leadoff spot, which signals Boston still wants his bat setting the table. If the club were truly worried about his health or timing, it could have dropped him in the order or sat him entirely. That said, it is also a reminder that Anthony is not fully back to being an everyday two-way player. His season has been interrupted, his numbers are modest by star standards, and Boston is clearly managing him carefully. In October, though, that is sensible caution, not necessarily alarm.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 30

Boston slotted Roman Anthony at designated hitter for Tuesday night’s Wild Card opener in the Bronx, keeping the leadoff hitter’s bat in the lineup against Yankees ace Cam Schlittler.
The move reshapes the outfield with Jarren Duran in left, Ceddanne Rafaela in center and Wilyer Abreu in right, while 23-year-old lefty Payton Tolle starts for Boston.
Anthony’s role reflects both strategy and health management after a wrist injury sidelined him for nearly four months and cost him more than 100 games this season.
In 55 games, Anthony hit .245 with five home runs, 15 RBIs and a .735 OPS, giving Boston a key bat to watch in the best-of-three series with an ALDS berth at stake.