The Boston Red Sox will play Game 2 of a three-game set against the Cleveland Guardians with a crucial piece back in the lineup.
Gold Glove outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, who has missed the last 17 games due to a quad issue, is back in center field for the Red Sox on Wednesday night, batting sixth against Guardians left-hander Foster Griffin.
Red Sox lineup vs. Guardians tonight, with Ceddanne Rafaela back from the IL:
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey)
LF Roman Anthony
1B Nick Sogard
DH Jahmai Jones
RF Wilyer Abreu
C Adley Rutschman
CF Ceddanne Rafaela
3B Caleb Durbin
SS Trevor Story
2B Andruw Monasterio
—
RHP Sonny Gray[September 23, 2026]
Rafaela rarely got a day off for the first few months of the season, playing in 135 out of the first 140 games before the injury. Some struggles at the plate and his eventual trip to the IL were signs that the attrition of a full season was catching up to him, and the Red Sox made the careful decision to get him off of his feet for most of the final month.
It goes without saying that Rafaela’s stellar glove in center will be a huge boost as Boston charges into the Wild Card series next week. His 15 outs above average rank second at the position only behi...