Yankees News: Projected Lineup For Opening Day – NY Yankees vs Boston Red Sox

Here are the projected lineups for both teams on Opening Day:

1. Enrique Hernandez, CF

2. Rafael Devers, 3B

3. Xander Bogaerts, SS

4. J.D. Martinez, DH

5. Alex Verdugo, LF

6. Trevor Story, 2B

7. Bobby Dalbec, 1B

8. Jackie Bradley Jr., RF

9. Christian Vazquez, C

SP: Nathan Eovaldi, RH

Analysis: Boston’s big, late-offseason acquisition of Story – switching to second base – adds another dangerous element to a solid lineup.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said “You don’t have to carry us. You do your part, and you’ll make us better.”

Bogaerts said Thursday that the time for negotiating an extension with Boston had passed, and Devers reportedly turned down an extension offer this spring.

Projected Yankees Lineup:

1. Josh Donaldson, 3B

2. Aaron Judge, RF

3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B

4. Giancarlo Stanton, DH

5. Joey Gallo, LF

6. Gleyber Torres, 2B

7. Aaron Hicks, CF

8. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS

9. Kyle Higashioka, C

SP: Gerrit Cole, RH

Analysis: Gone from last year’s Opening Day lineup are Gary Sanchez, Gio Urshela, Clint Frazier and Jay Bruce, replaced by Higashioka, Donaldson, Gallo and Rizzo.

“No doubt, we’re going to be better offensively, in the batter’s box and on the bases,” Boone said of the 2022 Yankees.

Cora noted that these Yankees are “a little more versatile (with) how they’re going use their whole personnel.

“I think we’re much more prepared to handle the different array of challenges that the game can throw at us,’’ Gerrit Cole said of the Yankees’ updated lineup and defensive construction.

“It’s just really feeding off one another and letting the next guy do it,’’ Rizzo said of the Yanks’ offensive approach.

Last season, the Yankees finished 11th in the AL in runs scored, seventh in OPS and first among clubs grounding into double plays.