The Boston Red Sox are shaking things up at the top of their lineup, and the return of a key bat is at the heart of the change. After sitting out a game with back tightness, Willson Contreras is back in action Friday night against the Detroit Tigers—and he's sliding into a brand-new spot: the coveted No. 2 hole in the batting order.

Manager Alex Cora is deploying a fresh look against Tigers starter Casey Mize, aiming to ignite an offense that has struggled for consistent power. Contreras, who has spent most of the season hitting third or fourth, will now provide immediate protection for leadoff man Roman Anthony. The reshuffle continues with Wilyer Abreu hitting third and the red-hot Trevor Story, batting .320 with runners in scoring position, anchoring the cleanup spot.

"Just put them all together and keep rolling," Cora said of the new alignment. "It just feels right... Then obviously from there, there’s a lot of athleticism. Hopefully, we can put pressure on them."

This strategic shift underscores Cora's urgency to jump-start a lineup that ranks in the bottom third of MLB in key categories like OPS, runs, and home runs. The move also creates some tough decisions, as Masataka Yoshida—hitting a solid .286 this season—finds himself out of the lineup to accommodate Jarren Duran in left field.

On the mound, lefty Ranger Suárez will look to build on his last stellar outing, a six-inning shutout performance. The Red Sox will also debut their "Fenway Greens" alternate jerseys as they open a crucial four-game homestand at 7:15 p.m. ET, exclusively on Apple TV.