Boston shuffled its outfield before Monday's A's opener, moving Jarren Duran to left and Nick Sogard to right after initially testing a reversed setup. Duran leads off for the first time in a few games, while Sogard sits in the eighth spot as the lineup otherwise stays in its original order. The move was sparked by a glut of injuries in the system and Refsnyder's day-to-day status, but manager Alex Cora insisted the swap was about optimizing defense and lineup balance rather than chasing a gimmick.

The Sox leaned into Duran's elite left-field defense and Rafaela's center-field upside, with Sogard, a switch-hitter, providing flexibility against A's righty Luis Morales. The final arrangement kept the core bats in place (Bregman at 2B, Story at SS, Lowe at 1B, Yoshida at DH, Rafaela in center, Narváez catching), while the outfield roles were adjusted to maximize the team’s upside in this three-game set.

For fantasy managers, the leadoff opportunity for Duran and the defensive reliability offered by Rafaela could unlock more runs and stolen-base potential in this series. Sogard's switch-hitting and position flexibility also raise his daily-spot viability, particularly in value-based lineups where salary relief matters. The injury situation and the lineup shuffle add a wrinkle to Boston's usual approach, but the path to production remains tied to run creation and defensive playmaking.

Boston promoted Payton Tolle and hints at Connelly Early’s imminent arrival, but Early was scratched from a AAA start to preserve workload. The Sox passed on Zac Gallen at deadline, adding Dustin May instead to stabilize the playoff push. Early’s 2.60 ERA, 10-3 record, and 132 Ks in 100 innings across AA/AAA signal upside, with a possible bullpen or spot-start role when/if he debuts. Yoshida batting leadoff continues to fuel run opportunities, while May’s arrival strengthens the rotation for fantasy late-season value.

Aroldis Chapman has been Boston’s bullpen linchpin, posting a 0.98 ERA and piling up 52 strikeouts over 30 innings since May 30. He just shattered two records: four strikeouts in a single inning and 50 straight batters retired. Boston extended him, signaling confidence for next year, while Yoshida’s leadoff role adds run-creating upside. Kenley Jansen’s exit opened save opportunities, with Dustin May floated as a deadline-era option. Diamondbacks were on the wrong end as Chapman’s dominance continued.