- 0 Shares
- Updated
Getty
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 16: Marcelo Mayer #11 of the Boston Red Sox bats in the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Boston Red Sox open up a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park this weekend. For the opener, Marcelo Mayer is out of the lineup. Chris Cotillo of MassLive reports Mayer is battling an illness.
No Marcelo Mayer tonight in Seattle. He has been dealing with illness, according to a source.
Gasper DH Rafaela CF Abreu RF Contreras 1B Duran LF Kiner-Falefa SS Durbin 3B Narvaez C Monasterio 2B
Boston will be without their starting shortstop for at least the series opener against Seattle. The Mariners are pitching both Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo for this game, both right-handers. So matchups aren’t a reason that the left-handed Mayer is out of the lineup.
Cotillo had reported the day before that a Red Sox player was traveling separately from the team. While there is no clear link between that and Mayer’s absence from the lineup, it is hard not to connect them.
Red Sox had at least one player under the weather who flew separately to Seattle from the club so there wasn’t a major illness situation ahead of the road trip.
With Marcelo Mayer out of the lineup, the Red Sox will start Isiah Kiner-Falefa at shortstop. Andruw Monasterio starts at second base.
There’s no indication yet if Mayer could be available off the bench. If not, then they just have utilityman Nate Eaton left for infield coverage in the case of an injury.
Left-hander Ranger Suarez takes the mound for the Red Sox, with first pitch set for 10:10 pm ET.
Michael McDermott Michael McDermott covers MLB for Heavy Sports. He's previously published content for SB Nation, Sports Illustrated, and FanSided in 11 seasons. Covered the Arizona Diamondbacks as an on-site reporter for the 2022-2024 seasons and the Arizona Fall League for 2022-2025. More about Michael McDermott