Mayer Platooned, Kiner-Falefa Starts vs. Lefties

0:00On March 26th, the Boston Red Sox have Marcelo Mayer on their opening day roster, but he is not locked in as the every day second baseman. Manager Alex Cora made it clear all spring that Mayer had to earn his spot, and while he did enough to make the team, he will start in a platoon role. Today in Cincinnati against left-handed pitcher Andrew Abbott, Isaiah Kiner-Faleffa gets the nod at second base next to shortstop Trevor Story. Kiner-Faleffa has a solid career, a 251 average against lefties with a 643 on base plus lugging mark, which gives him the edge. Right now, Mayer struggled last season, hitting just 154 against South Paul's in the majors, so the team wants him to prove himself before facing them. Regularly, another option like Andrew Monasterio also performs well versus lefties, but Cora has planned this platoon setup from the start. Looking ahead, Mayer should see most of his starts against right-handers early in the year, building confidence step by step.

1:00As one of the top prospects in the organization, he remains a key piece for the Red Sox future. Fans can expect this careful approach to pay off, as Mayer adjusts to Big League life and earns more every day at bats. That's the story for today. Boston Red Sox News Today, driven by AI, I'm Cora with the story.