Boston Red Sox
Alex Cora declines to elaborate after scratching Carlos Narvaez hours before Red Sox game
Carlos Narvaez was a late scratch from Wednesday’s lineup. Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe
April 1, 2026 | 7:51 PM
2 minutes to read
Carlos Narvaez has been one of the few positives amid the Red Sox’ sluggish start to the 2026 season, batting .444 over his first three games of the new year.
But, just a few hours before first pitch of Boston’s series finale against the Houston Astros on Wednesday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced that Narvaez was scratched from the lineup — replaced by Connor Wong.
“I just made a change,” Cora told reporters in Houston, including Tim Healey of The Boston Globe. “I talked to Carlos a little bit. We move on from there. So one of those that I felt like we needed to make the change in the lineup, and it’s for the best.”
When asked if Narvaez’s sudden removal from the lineup was for disciplinary reasons, Cora declined to discuss the rationale.
“Let’s keep it between me and Carlos,” Cora said. “And he understands. This is something that happens on every club. It just happens to be early in the season, and I think it’s the right thing to do.”
Granted, turning to Wong doesn’t appear to have backfired in what has otherwise been a pretty punchless Boston lineup through six games. Boston’s backup catcher is batting .500 (5-for-10) with three doubles through four games so far this season.
Still, the sudden scratching of an expected lineup regular in Narvaez doesn’t present the most reassuring optics for a baseball club that has stumbled out of the gate this spring.
“This is a decision I made, and we’re going to go,” Cora said. “Wonger is ready. He’s caught him before. We’re fine. It’s a day after night game; it is what it is.”
Speaking after Boston’s eventual 6-4 loss to the Astros on Wednesday, Narvaez also declined to get into the specifics for his removal from the lineup, but noted that it didn’t have to do with injury.
“Like AC said this morning, I prefer to keep it between us,” Narvaez told Healey. “I don’t have much to say right now… I respect the decision… It’s nothing wrong. Just gotta keep going.”
Narvaez and the Red Sox will look to get back in the win column on Friday when they host the Padres in their home opener at Fenway Park. First pitch is set for 2:10 p.m.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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