Pieces don’t fit for the Red Sox

The Red Sox roster doesn’t mesh well. It’s likely too late to salvage this season, but some changes would help.

Kiké Hernández doesn’t seem to have a role other than occasionally playing center field, given his throwing issues at shortstop. Why not make him the second baseman?

Jarren Duran, 26, should be playing regularly to determine whether he is actually part of the future or just a guy. That could require trading Adam Duvall or playing him at first base.

At 38, Justin Turner should be the DH and not the regular first baseman. He played one inning at first base from 2016-22.

Triston Casas has been the worst defensive first baseman in the game based on defensive runs saved, the metric most referenced by manager Alex Cora.

At 23, Casas seems like a good candidate to return to Triple A, play every day, and smooth out the rough edges in his game. But he remains on the roster in a poorly defined bench role.

Bobby Dalbec, who has a 1.058 OPS in Triple A, has earned another chance.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox don’t really have a shortstop as Trevor Story remains in rehab mode. Now fringe big leaguers Yu Chang and Pablo Reyes are crucial players with Story not expected back until August.

At 37 and signed to a one-year contract, Corey Kluber has a 6.75 ERA and is now a low-leverage reliever. Wouldn’t that spot be better used by somebody such as Chris Murphy?

A few other observations on the Red Sox:

R Chris Martin is quietly having a strong season. The 37-year-old setup man allowed three earned runs on nine hits and struck out 16 over 13„ innings in his first 14 outings after a 17day stay on the injured list with a sore shoulder.

“It seems like my shoulder always gives me trouble early,” Martin said. “Sometimes I pitch through it because you don’t want to go on the IL. But the rest and some treatment made a difference.”

A two-year contract made that easier to take. Martin has played professionally for 14 years and understands he is one of those players who always has to prove himself.

His career has included independent ball, time with seven major league organizations, and two seasons in Japan. He was a Red Sox prospect from 2011-13 before being traded to the Rockies.

R Stanford used senior lefthander Quinn Mathews for nine innings and 156 pitches to beat Texas in a NCAA Super Regional game last Sunday.

No major league pitcher has thrown that many pitches since Tim Wakefield threw 169 against the Brewers on June 5, 1997.

He went 8„ innings in a 2-1 victory. With two runners on, manager Jimy Williams went to Kerry Lacy for his first career save.