ESPN’s Red Sox lineup graphic is full of errors

Somehow, ESPN made a lineup graphic for the Boston Red Sox that is full of errors. That’s not a great start as the MLB postseason gets underway. 

As the Red Sox and New York Yankees get set for the 2021 American League Wild Card game, ESPN found a way to mess up the lineup graphic it made for Boston.

It’s worth noting that while ESPN got the batting order set correctly for Boston, that graphic is chock-full of errors with where each player will be lining up. Multiple players are listed with the position another is supposed to play.

Kyle Schwarber is Boston’s designated hitter and Kiké Hernández is a centerfielder. ESPN got Rafael Devers right, he’s playing third base tonight and Xander Bogaerts is indeed a shortstop, but Alex Verdugo will be out in left field.

Boston Red Sox: ESPN makes lineup graphic that features multiple errors

To add on to that, Bobby Dalbec isn’t a right fielder, he’s supposed to be over at first base. Similarly, Hunter Renfroe won’t be at first base, he’s going to be in right field for the Red Sox. Kevin Plawecki isn’t going to be Boston’s second baseman, he’ll be behind the plate at catcher. Oh, and Christian Arroyo should be at second base, not at catcher.

ESPN’s production team did get Boston’s starting pitcher right as Nathan Eovaldi will indeed be taking the mound for the Red Sox tonight, but the rest of this graphic isn’t all that accurate.

A Red Sox lineup that is considerably more accurate can be found here.

Mistakes happen, sure, but ESPN is held to a higher standard than most. When you refer to yourself as the “Worldwide Leader in Sports,” people expect you to make lineup graphics for AL  Wild Card game that are a bit more error-free than this one. I’m sure Boston Red Sox fans would’ve appreciated a more accurate one.