TORONTO — Barring any sort of last-minute setbacks, the Red Sox are expecting to have Xander Bogaerts back in the lineup Friday night against the Rays.


 


The shortstop is likely to come off the disabled list for the opener of the six-game homestand at Fenway Park, playing just one rehab contest with Triple-A Pawtucket. Bogaerts has been sidelined since April 8 after cracking the talus bone in his left ankle, also a home game against Tampa Bay. [...]

Bill Koch

TORONTO — Barring any sort of last-minute setbacks, the Red Sox are expecting to have Xander Bogaerts back in the lineup Friday night against the Rays.

 

The shortstop is likely to come off the disabled list for the opener of the six-game homestand at Fenway Park, playing just one rehab contest with Triple-A Pawtucket. Bogaerts has been sidelined since April 8 after cracking the talus bone in his left ankle, also a home game against Tampa Bay.

 

“I talked to him today and he was very upbeat,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “He didn’t have to convince me. He was emphatic and genuine and said it with conviction.”

 

Bogaerts had a final checkup with team medical staff early Thursday and called Cora with the good news. The two spoke over the FaceTime app, with Cora joking that “they want to make sure they see you eye-to-eye, I guess.” Bogaerts has been away from the team for an extended period this week, traveling to McCoy Stadium to double and homer in three at-bats Tuesday night and continuing his rehab work in Boston.

 

“We’re looking forward to having him back at shortstop and in the middle of the lineup,” Cora said. “I know it’s a rehab game, but his swing is still there. It’s not going to take that much.”

 

Cora said Bogaerts would be managed carefully in the early going, likely playing on a catcher’s schedule. Sunday’s day game against the Rays and Wednesday’s day game against the Royals are both likely to see him out of the lineup, along with the finale of a three-game set at the Rangers next weekend.

 

Brock Holt has filled in ably at shortstop, making it a nine-game hitting streak thanks to his double in the second inning on Thursday. But Holt pulled up rounding first base, grabbing for his left hamstring, and exited the game in favor of Tzu-Wei Lin. If healthy, Holt’s ability to play both second base and third base will rest Eduardo Nuņez and Rafael Devers.

 

“I want to play,” Holt said after his three-hit game Wednesday. “And I don’t want to play because one of the guys gets hurt. Obviously, right now, we’ve got a pretty good team.”

 

The Red Sox announced Holt exited with left hamstring tightness and would be evaluated further.

 

 

 

Making a switch

 

All it took was a text message to coax Mookie Betts into a position change for one night.

 

Betts made his first start in center field since the 2015 season finale at Cleveland, giving Jackie Bradley Jr. the night off. J.D. Martinez flanked Betts in right while Mitch Moreland served as the designated hitter.

 

“That was more of my decision,” Cora said. “[Martinez is] playing more in right field. He played right field last year a lot.”

 

Betts was the premier defensive outfielder in the game in 2017, leading all players in UZR. It was the second Red Sox start in right field for Martinez, the other coming April 3 at the Marlins. Martinez made a fine running catch on the backhand to end the first inning, as the Blue Jays stranded a pair.

 

 

 

'It's a good move'

 

Boston’s Public Improvement Commission voted unanimously Thursday morning to change the name of Yawkey Way.

 

The proposal was made by current Red Sox ownership, returning the stretch of road outside Fenway Park to its previous Jersey Street name. The change was made in 1977 after the passing of longtime Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey, but his refusal to integrate the team – along with several other allegations over that have come to light over the past four decades – had changed public sentiment.

 

“Everybody knows the reasons for it,” said Cora, the first minority manager since the club’s 1901 founding. “We move forward. In history there’s always a positive and a negative – we’re trying to move forward.

 

“In my case, obviously, this is an organization that is open to giving people chances. I can say it. I think there’s a lot of people that are happy about it. It’s a good move by the organization. It’s an inclusive society. This represents that.”

 

 

 

-- bkoch@providencejournal.com

 

On Twitter: @BillKoch25