Boston Red Sox Sitting Rafael Devers vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The Boston Red Sox are looking to avoid a sweep today against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Game time is 1:10 p.m. ET and the Sox are sitting Rafael Devers. Here's the full Sox lineup against Tampa pitcher Jeffrey Springs.

The Boston Red Sox are looking to avoid a four-game sweep today against the Tampa Bay Rays and if they are going to do it, they'll have to do it without their best overall player.

Rafael Devers is sitting this afternoon and the lineup from Alex Cora looks awfully light without him. 

1) Alex Verdugo, RF

2) Justin Turner, DH

3) Rob Refsnyder, LF

4) Tristan Casas, 1B

5) Bobby Dalbec, 3B

6) Enrique Hernandez, CF

7) Reese McGuire, C

8) Yu Chang, SS

9) Christian Arroyo, 2B

SP: Corey Kluber

No Devers today.

Verdugo RF, Turner DH, Refsnyder LF, Casas 1B, Dalbec 3B, K. Hernández CF, McGuire C, Chang SS, Arroyo 2B

— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) April 13, 2023

Just a few weeks ago, I thought the Red Sox lineup would be better than anticipated, but this looks like among the worst lineups a baseball team can put out there. It's crazy how an injury to Adam Duvall and a sitting Devers can turn the whole thing upside down.

Lets also not forget that Trevor Story is out most or all of the season after undergoing an offseason elbow procedure, making the lineup even thinner.

Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe provided some context as to why Devers was sitting today: 

"Yes, Devers is out of the lineup. He was unlikely to play four days on turf. They're also in the middle of 19 games in 19 days and the four games coming up against the Angels are at 7:10, 4:10, 1:35 and 11:10. he was going to get a day off one way or another."

Yes, Devers is out of the lineup.

He was unlikely to play four days on turf. They're also in the middle of 19 games in 19 days and the four games coming up against the Angels are at 710, 410, 135 and 1110. He was going to get a day off one way or another.

— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) April 13, 2023

Devers hit a three-run home run in the Red Sox 9-7 loss on Wednesday night.

The Rays are currently 12-0 on the season and out to the best start in baseball since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers. The Red Sox have lost 12 consecutive games against Tampa in Tampa, having not won since last April 22nd. 

Despite the Rays hot start, some people just aren't believers. 

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