Rafaela isn't in Boston's lineup Saturday versus the Rays.
Rafaela is just 5-for-35 with five RBI over his last 10 games and will grab a seat on the bench to begin Saturday's contest. Vaughn Grissom will get the nod to start at second base and bat ninth.
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Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Absent from lineup
Rotowire
Rafaela is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Toronto, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Rafaela appears to be receiving a routine day off after he started each of the previous five contests. Jarren Duran will shift over to center field in Rafaela's stead, and Enmanuel Valdez will cover second base for the Red Sox.
Rafaela is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in Tampa Bay, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Rafaela is getting a breather after going 1-for-16 with seven strikeouts across his last five games. Nick Sogard will cover second base and bat ninth for the Red Sox.
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Out of Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Rafaela isn't in the Red Sox's lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Rafaela has been held hitless in eight at-bats through the first two games of the series, and he'll now get a chance to regroup as he sits Saturday. Enmanuel Valdez will start at second base and bat ninth.
Rafaela started at second base and went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Wednesday's 5-3 extra-inning win over the Orioles.
Rafaela made his second start at second base (fourth appearance overall) and first since shortstop Trevor Story was reinstated from the 60-day injured list. At the time of Story's return last week, the speculation was the Rafaela would move to second base, but that didn't occur until Wednesday's game.
Rafaela started in center field and went 2-for-4 with a double, four RBI and a run scored in Monday's 12-3 win over the Orioles.
Rafaela gave Boston separation late in the game with a two-run single in the sixth inning and a two-run double in the eighth. It was assumed he'd move to second base with the return of shortstop Trevor Story from the 60-day injured list, but Rafaela has played only center field since, while Romy Gonzalez and Enmanuel Valdez handled second. Rafaela could eventually shift back to the infield, and it would seem to make sense as the Red Sox have a several outfield/DH bats that would be more dangerous in the lineup than the Gonzalez/Valdez duo.
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Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Starts in center field
Rotowire
Rafaela started in center field and went 0-for-4 in Saturday's 7-5 win over the White Sox.
The return of shortstop Trevor Story was initially expected to move Rafaela to second base, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora put him in the outfield. Rafaela is fighting it right now and is 5-for-40 (.125) over his last 12 games.
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Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Sitting Sunday
Rotowire
Rafaela is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Rafaela will begin Sunday's contest in the dugout after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Saturday's 7-5 win over the White Sox. Enmanuel Valdez will start at second base and bat ninth against White Sox right-hander Chris Flexen.
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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.
