The Boston Red Sox kick off a six-game road trip in St. Louis tonight with a notable lineup shuffle. Top prospect Roman Anthony finds himself as the odd man out in the outfield rotation, while manager Alex Cora continues his search for consistency in the crucial No. 2 spot in the batting order.

For the fifth consecutive game, a different player will hit second, with third baseman Caleb Durbin getting the nod tonight. This revolving door follows recent appearances there by Trevor Story, Masataka Yoshida, Jarren Duran, and Andruw Monasterio. With a crowded group of five outfield and DH candidates vying for four spots, Cora is prioritizing roster management early in the season.

Tonight's alignment features Jarren Duran leading off in left field, Ceddanne Rafaela in center, and Wilyer Abreu in right, with Yoshida serving as the designated hitter and batting third. Cora confirmed Anthony is healthy and expects him to play throughout the remainder of the road trip, emphasizing the need to keep everyone fresh. "We’ve got to play everybody," Cora stated. "This is the rotation. We’re going to maximize the roster."

The Red Sox will face a familiar arm in Cardinals starter Dustin May, who made five starts for Boston after a mid-season trade last year. May presents a potential opportunity for the Sox bats, as he has struggled mightily to begin 2025, surrendering 13 earned runs over just 7 ⅓ innings in his first two outings.

On the mound for Boston, rookie left-hander Connelly Early looks to rebound after a tough last start where command issues limited him to four innings. His performance will be key as the Sox aim to start their road trip on a winning note in St. Louis.