Duran anchors the left field and leadoff role, providing speed and a strong defensive presence. His role is crucial as Abreu and Rafaela return, with Duran benefiting from Abreu’s power protection and Rafaela’s on-base skills to maximize scoring opportunities.

Duran started in left after initially appearing to be set for right, then earned the leadoff spot for the opener. His defense in left is lauded and his ability to spark baserunning lends immediate fantasy value in a leadoff role, especially in a series against Oakland. He represents a dynamic speed option who can boost SB upside when perched atop the lineup.

Duran starts in right, a rare outfield assignment for him since 2022, and resumes leading off as Boston tweaks its lineup on the fly. His speed keeps him a threat on the bases, and this position flexibility could unlock baserunning opportunities in a park favorable to extra bases.

Duran shifts to a higher-leverage spot behind Yoshida, with Lowe and Story ahead, affecting his counting stats and opportunity quality. His speed and occasional power could yield more runs scored and stolen-base potential if Boston finds baserunners ahead of him.

Duran exemplifies speed in context, contributing to the broader base-running revival. His pace and acceleration in the Boston lineup illustrate how the new rules reward aggressive baserunning and elevate players whose impact comes as much from baserunning IQ as sprint speed.