Infield roles remain unsettled as Boston’s starting nine continues coming into focus.
Opening Day is no longer theoretical.
The Red Sox will open the 2026 season March 26 in Cincinnati against the Reds, with Garrett Crochet already tabbed for the mound.
The rotation’s front end is set.
The lineup?
Mostly.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter released an updated projection this week that paints a clearer picture of how Boston could look when the games start counting.
It’s a group heavy on upside, athleticism, and at least one unresolved infield debate.
Here’s how Reuter sees it shaking out:
LF - Roman Anthony
SS - Trevor Story
DH - Jarren Duran
1B - Willson Contreras
RF - Wilyer Abreu
3B - Caleb Durbin
C - Carlos Narvaez
2B - Marcelo Mayer
CF - Ceddanne Rafaela
IL - Triston Casas, Romy González
Feb 26, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (40) shakes hands with temmates after scoring a run in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. (Jim Rassol/Imagn Images)At first glance, the takeaway is stability. The starting nine, as Reuter noted, is “essentially decided.”
Boston’s outfield alignment feels locked in, with Anthony and Abreu flanking Rafaela and Duran sliding into the DH role. Contreras anchors first base with Casas projected to begin the year on the injured list.
But the real intrigue sits on the dirt.
The Mayer-Durbin dynamic remains unsettled. Mayer, once viewed strictly as the franchise shortstop of the future, has been working primarily at second base this spring. Durbin, acquired to add versatility and contact skills, has logged time at third. Game action - not reputation - will ultimately decide who claims which spot.
That fluidity speaks to a broader organizational theme.
The Red Sox aren’t short on young talent; they’re sorting out alignment and optimization. Story remains at shortstop, providing veteran stability, while the club figures out how best to deploy two infielders it believes can be everyday contributors.
The projected order also hints at stylistic balance.
Anthony’s on-base ability at the top. Story’s experience. Duran’s speed and power in a run-producing DH slot. Contreras as a middle-of-the-order presence. Rafaela’s defense and range in center to close the chain.
Nothing is official. Lineups in February and March are frameworks, not declarations. But with Crochet confirmed for Opening Day and the core nine largely defined, Boston’s roster picture is sharpening.
What remains unsettled isn’t who will play, it’s exactly where they’ll stand when the anthem ends in Cincinnati.
Feb 22, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) looks on during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. (Kim Klement Neitzel/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.