Mookie Betts made his first start at second base in the major leagues Saturday and is expected to remain there for the balance of the season, ESPN Boston reports. "As much as I said before about not moving him out of center field, here we are putting him

Betts made his first start at second base in the major leagues Saturday and is expected to remain there for the balance of the season, ESPN Boston reports. "As much as I said before about not moving him out of center field, here we are putting him at second base," manager John Farrell said. "I want to minimize the back-and-forth to him. In fairness to him, that would be the approach. It kind of points at Mookie remaining at second base."

Analysis:

Farrell had talked about Betts staying in the outfield, but that was before second baseman Dustin Pedroia underwent season-ending wrist surgery. And with Rusney Castillo set to join the club, the opening at second base provides the Red Sox an opportunity to get Betts regular at-bats. He went 0-for-4 with a run scored while batting leadoff in Saturday's loss to the Royals.