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Red Sox Lineup Has A Different Look For Final Homestand Opener Against Guardians

Nairavoice · Sep 22, 2026 · 2 min read

Red Sox Lineup Has A Different Look For Final Homestand Opener Against Guardians originally appeared on NESN.
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The Red Sox are back at Fenway Park on Tuesday, and their first lineup of the final homestand offers a glimpse at how Chad Tracy is handling the days before October.

Boston has already clinched a playoff spot, but there is still work to do. The Red Sox enter their six-game homestand with a four-game cushion for the second American League wild-card spot. First up are the Cleveland Guardians, who have won four straight and lead the AL Central by one game.

Roman Anthony leads off and plays left field for the 6:45 p.m. ET opener. Nick Sogard bats second at first base, while Jahmai Jones gets the designated hitter spot and bats third. Trevor Story, Jarren Duran and Willson Contreras are out of Tuesday’s starting nine. The Red Sox did not give a reason for their absences in the lineup announcement.

The Red Sox shared Tuesday’s lineup on X:

Roman Anthony, LF
Nick Sogard, 1B
Jahmai Jones, DH
Wilyer Abreu, RF
Adley Rutschman, C
Caleb Durbin, 3B
Andruw Monasterio, 2B
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS
Nate Eaton, CF

Back home! pic.twitter.com/KKzVhO1xew

— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 22, 2026

The most striking choice is Jones in the third spot. With Anthony and Sogard ahead of him, Jones could get early opportunities to drive in runs against Cleveland left-hander Parker Messick. Abreu and Rutschman follow him in the middle of the order.

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Payton Tolle starts for Boston in a matchup of left-handers. Tolle enters at 9-6 with a 3.02 ERA, while Messick is 12-9 with a 2.57 ERA. The game airs on NESN. Tuesday is also the first of Boston’s final six regular-season games, all at home. The Red Sox have secured their place in the postseason. Now Tracy has a short window to keep them sharp and decide which combinations give them the best chance when the wild-card series begins next week.