Jarren Duran moved to right field with Jackie Bradley Jr. in center as Boston Red Sox look to avoid sweep Thu – MassLive.com

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- For the first time since June 4, Jarren Duran is playing in right field for the Red Sox on Thursday night.

Boston moved Duran to right and put Jackie Bradley Jr. in center for its series finale against the Rays at Tropicana Field. All season, it has been Duran in center with Bradley manning right field. But with an eye on defense, manager Alex Cora decided to make the switch as the Red Sox look to avoid being swept in a four-game series.

I think here, its very spacious and Jackies one of the best defenders in the big leagues, Cora said. He showed it yesterday. Put the kid (Duran) in right field. He should be good. One thing about him, he has been really good to his right so far since he got called up. Im not saying hes struggled to his left but he has been better to his right.

Cora said the Red Sox would do the same thing in New York, where theyll start a three-game series Friday night. Bradley is a far superior defender to Duran, who has mostly played in center throughout his minor league career.

Jeter Downs is back at second base in place of Trevor Story, who is out for the second straight night with a right hand contusion. Downs is batting ninth behind Bradley. Kevin Plawecki is catching righty Kutter Crawford and Franchy Cordero is at first base.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.

FIRST PITCH: 7:10 p.m. ET

TV CHANNEL: NESN, MLB Network

LIVE STREAM: fuboTV - If you have cable and live in the New England TV market, you can use your login credentials to watch via NESN on mobile and WiFi-enabled devices. If you dont have cable, you can watch the game via fuboTV, in New England | Watch NESN Live

RADIO: WEEI 93.7 FM

PITCHING PROBABLES: RHP Kutter Crawford (2-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. RHP Drew Rasmussen (5-3, 3.11 ERA)

RED SOX LINEUP:

1. RF Jarren Duran

2. 3B Rafael Devers

3. DH J.D. Martinez

4. SS Xander Bogaerts

5. LF Alex Verdugo

6. 1B Franchy Cordero

7. C Kevin Plawecki

8. CF Jackie Bradley Jr.

9. 2B Jeter Downs

RAYS LINEUP:

1. 3B Yandy Daz

2. 1B Ji-Man Choi

3. DH Harold Ramrez

4. 2B Jonathan Aranda

5. C Christian Bethancourt

6. RF Josh Lowe

7. SS Taylor Walls

8. LF Luke Raley

9. CF Brett Phillips

Related links:

David Ortiz urges Red Sox to sign Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts: they represent Boston better than anyone else, we have to lock them in

Boston Red Sox promote former first-round pick Jay Groome to Triple-A Worcester

Could Boston Red Sox trade a lefty reliever? Examining the case to deal Austin Davis or Josh Taylor before Aug. 2 deadline

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Jarren Duran moved to right field with Jackie Bradley Jr. in center as Boston Red Sox look to avoid sweep Thu - MassLive.com