ATLANTA — For days, the Red Sox have circled Sunday’s series finale against the Braves as the day rookie Kristian Campbell would make his debut at first base. That isn’t happening.
Campbell is starting at second base and hot-hitting veteran Abraham Toro is playing first Sunday at Truist Park. Toro is hitting cleanup while Campbell is hitting seventh. The only change from the previous two days is that Connor Wong, not Carlos Narváez, is catching for Boston. Ace Garrett Crochet will pitch in the rubber game.
Campbell has been working out at first base as part of his pregame work for much of the last two weeks and was expected to play there Sunday. But with Toro hitting .296 with an .833 OPS in 17 games for Boston, the scuffling Sox wanted to keep his bat in the lineup.
“The at-bats have been amazing,” manager Alex Cora said. “Obviously, we’re not scoring a lot of runs. So keeping that bat in the lineup is important for us.”
“Today, it seemed like a good day but Toro is pushing the envelope. He’s putting good at-bats and we need him in the lineup.”
Campbell began his pregame work at first base on May 16, two weeks after Triston Casas hit the injured list with a season-ending knee injury and a week after Rafael Devers went public with his displeasure about the Red Sox asking him to learn the position. The Red Sox have been pleased with the versatile rookie’s progress at the position and still aim to get him a start there in the near future. The team is also hoping Romy Gonzalez will be activated from the injured list early this week in time to face Angels lefties Tyler Anderson and Yusei Kikuchi at Fenway Park.
Campbell had a brutal May offensively, hitting .134 with one extra-base hit and 27 strikeouts in 22 games.
“We’ll keep working with (Campbell) and when we see a window, we’ll do it,” Cora said. “We’ve got lefties coming. We’ll see where we’re at roster-wise.”
The Red Sox, losers of six of their last seven games, were shut out for the first time this season in Saturday’s 5-0 loss. They’re 6-6 in Crochet’s outings so far this year.
First pitch is at 1:35 p.m. ET.
BOSTON RED SOX (28-32) @ ATLANTA BRAVES (27-30) · TRUIST PARK · ATLANTA, GA · GAME 61
FIRST PITCH: 1:35 p.m. ET
TV CHANNEL: NESN
RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM
PITCHING PROBABLES: LHP Garrett Crochet (4-4, 2.04 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Elder (2-2, 4.50 ERA)
RED SOX LINEUP:
1) LF Jarren Duran
2) DH Rafael Devers
3) RF Wilyer Abreu
4) 1B Abraham Toro
5) 3B Marcelo Mayer
6) SS Trevor Story
7) 2B Kristian Campbell
8) C Connor Wong
9) CF Ceddanne Rafaela
BRAVES LINEUP:
1) RF Ronald Acuña Jr.
2) 3B Austin Riley
3) DH Marcell Ozuna
4) 1B Matt Olson
5) 2B Ozzie Albies
6) C Sean Murphy
7) LF Eli White
8) CF Michael Harris II
9) SS Nick Allen
