Roman Anthony is absent from the Boston Red Sox starting lineup for Friday night's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Manager Alex Cora explained the decision as part of a routine rotation in the outfield and designated hitter spots early in the season, not due to injury.
The Red Sox began a six-game road trip with the three-game series in St. Louis. Cora emphasized the need to give playing time to all options as Boston seeks offensive rhythm. “You’ve got to play everyone, right?” Cora said. Anthony, who has led off primarily this year, remains available off the bench and could pinch-hit if needed. This marks his second non-start of the season. Anthony entered the game hitting .217 with a .308 on-base percentage and .656 OPS, reflecting a slow start at the plate. Despite the numbers, team officials expressed little concern internally. Cora has mixed and matched the lineup frequently in the early going to evaluate combinations. The Red Sox aimed to build momentum from recent play heading into this trip, which continues in Minnesota after the weekend.