Red Sox lineup: Three regulars not starting vs. O's on Saturday

BALTIMORE — Three regulars are not in the Red Sox lineup against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.

Catcher Adley Rutschman , third baseman Caleb Durbin and center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela are not starting.

The Red Sox and Orioles will play the third game of this four-game series at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Sonny Gray (16-4, 2.82 ERA) will start for Boston, while righty Chris Bassitt (6-4, 4.97 ERA) will pitch for Baltimore.

Rafaela is dealing with a tight right quad muscle. This is the third straight game he will miss.

Rafaela did not hit again today. The Red Sox are still looking to avoid an IL stint "at this point," interim manager Chad Tracy said.

"But I want to talk through the timetable on what that looks like as far as timing coming back," Tracy added. "And we have to discuss that. But as of right now, no."

Rutschman has been managing an elbow issue . He hyperextended his right elbow on an aggressive swing in Miami on Aug. 24.

Backup catcher Connor Wong and Gray have worked well together this season, but Tracy said this is not about pairing the two together.

"It has nothing to do with that," Tracy said. "Rush is fine. It's more like we're trying to make sure we take care of that thing. He's looked good and felt good these last two days as far as that elbow."

Tracy said the Red Sox don't want to push Rutschman too much and risk the elbow tightness "creeping up again."

"Get him back in there tomorrow," Tracy said. "So just being smart about where he's at with his elbow and letting him continue treatment and try to get us on the other side of that thing."

The Red Sox have a 1:35 p.m. game Sunday, a quick turnaround after Saturday's night game.

"Whether it was today or tomorrow, Connor was going to play one of these. So doing it today instead of tomorrow is all it is," Tracy said.

Durbin has looked tired recently and could use a couple of days off. He's 6-for-40 (.150) with a .292 on-base percentage and no extra-base hits over his past 13 games.

"Needs a day," Tracy said. "He just needs a breather. That's all it is. I just want to give him a breather."

Nick Sogard will play at third base and Isiah Kiner-Falefa will play at second base.

Eli White will start in place of Rafaela in center field for the third straight game.

Shortstop Trevor Story will bat cleanup.

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