Rafaela (hamstring) will start in center field and bat second in Tuesday's game versus the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Rafaela didn't start Monday's series opener because of some mild hamstring tightness, but he entered that game as a defensive replacement and will return to the lineup Tuesday. The Gold Glove center fielder has a .918 OPS in May.

Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said that Rafaela is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals due to "a little bit of tightness in his hamstring," Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rafaela is experiencing some discomfort in his leg after a busy weekend in Atlanta both on the bases and in the outfield, but the Red Sox aren't concerned about their everyday center fielder requiring a stint on the injured list. Tracy said that Rafaela will receive treatment Monday, and the expectation is that the 25-year-old will be back in the lineup Tuesday. Jarren Duran will slide over from his usual spot in left field to cover center field in the series opener in Kansas City.

Rafaela went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a stolen base and was caught stealing in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

Rafaela was one of three Red Sox players to be thrown out on the basepaths when he was caught attempting to steal third base after a leadoff double in the fifth inning. It appears being aggressive was a plan for interim manager Chad Tracy, who also watched Jarren Duran get picked off and Mickey Gasper gunned down by several steps while attempting to swipe second base. Rafaela, who stole 20 bases in 2025, now has three steals and has been caught four times. For a player that sits in the 90th percentile in sprint speed, Rafaela hasn't helped the Red Sox much when attempting to steal during his four MLB seasons; he has successfully stolen a base on 69.2 percent of his career attempts (45 of 65).

Rafaela entered as a pinch hitter and belted a two-run home run in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

Rafaela was held out of the starting lineup because interim manager Chad Tracy wanted Masataka Yoshida's left-handed bat against Philadelphia starter and right-hander Andrew Painter. Ironically, Rafaela was announced to pinch hit for Yoshida against a lefty in the sixth inning, but Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly countered with righty Orion Kerkering. Rafaela crushed a fastball for the first pinch-hit home run of his career and the game-winning hit. It was Rafaela's third homer to go along with nine RBI in his last seven contests.

Rafaela is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rafaela appears to be receiving a routine breather after he had started in each of the team's last 11 games while going 12-for-43 (.279 average) with two home runs, two stolen bases, seven RBI and four runs over that stretch. Jarren Duran will slide over from left field to replace Rafaela in center.

Rafaela went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-0 win over the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Rafaela gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead with a solo shot off Jesse Scholtens in the fourth inning. The 25-year-old has enjoyed a strong start to the month, going 10-for-31 with two home runs, six RBI and two stolen bases through eight games since the calendar flipped to May. On the year, he's slashing .278/.345/.413 with three homers, 16 RBI, 17 runs scored and two steals across 139 plate appearances.

Rafaela went 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 10-3 win over the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

Rafaela launched his second home run of the season, a three-run shot in first inning to put Boston up early. The multi-hit effort was his fourth in the last nine games, a span in which Rafaela is slashing .342/.375/.553 with four extra-base hits, six RBI, one steal and five runs scored.

Rafaela is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Toronto.

EDGE Analysis

It looks to be a routine day off for Rafaela, who had started each of the previous seven contests. Jarren Duran will play center field and bat leadoff in Rafaela's stead.

Rafaela is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.

EDGE Analysis

The Red Sox will give Rafaela a breather for their annual Patriots' Day game, paving the way for Jarren Duran to re-enter the lineup in center field after sitting for the past two contests. Rafaela has posted a career-best .739 through his first 20 games of 2026, though he's yet to provide his usual impact on the basepaths (zero steals in two attempts).

Rafaela is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rafaela started the previous seven games and collected a hit in each contest, going 8-for-22 with a double, two RBI and four runs during that span. He'll receive a day off Tuesday while Jarren Duran shifts to center field and Roman Anthony to left, opening up the DH spot for Masataka Yoshida.