Pillar went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Sunday's 5-4 loss to Baltimore.

EDGE Analysis

Pillar, batting leadoff against left-hander Wade LeBlanc, opened the game with a home run, then stole third base and scored again in the sixth inning. He opened the season as the fourth outfielder but has appeared in 25 of 29 games and is second on the team with 16 runs. His playing time could take a hit when Andrew Benintendi (ribs) returns, but given that the Red Sox will be sellers at the trade deadline, Pillar may be an attractive piece for a contender.

Pillar went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Pillar got the Red Sox on the board with his third-inning solo shot, his second homer of the year. The outfielder has added a .313/.352/.507 slash line with nine RBI and 10 runs scored in 18 contests this season. He's hit safely in his last five games, going 8-for-20 (.400) with a homer, four RBI and four runs scored in that span.

Pillar went 4-for-5 with a run scored Wednesday in the Red Sox's 9-5 loss to the Rays.

EDGE Analysis

Pillar slotted in at the top of the order with lefty Blake Snell on the mound, but he'll shift down to fifth in the lineup in Thursday's series finale as right-hander Tyler Glasnow starts for the Rays. Though he opened the season as Boston's fourth outfielder, Pillar should be in store for a full-time role in the short term after Andrew Benintendi (ribs) was moved to the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Pillar started in right field and batted leadoff in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Yankees. He went 1-for-4.

EDGE Analysis

Per usual, Pillar was in the lineup against a left-hander, but this was the first time he's batted leadoff. Until now, Jose Peraza has been leading off against southpaws. The promotion in the batting order makes sense; Pillar has hit safely in five of six games, including two three-hit games, with a 1.117 OPS.

Pillar went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI in Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

Getting the start in right field and hitting fifth with rookie southpaw David Peterson on the mound for New York, Pillar was one of the few Boston hitters to have any real success. The veteran outfielder is now 7-for-12 to begin the season with four of his hits (three doubles and a homer) going for extra bases, but despite the hot start his playing time will likely depend on how often Boston continues to face left-handed pitching.

Pillar started in right field and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 7-4 loss to Baltimore.

EDGE Analysis

With the Red Sox facing a lefty for the second time in three games, Pillar was placed in the starting lineup. He had three hits in Friday's opener as a fill-in for Alex Verdugo in right field; Sunday, Verdugo moved to left field in place of Andrew Benintendi to make room for Pillar. However lineups and defensive positions shake out, Pillar is expected to start against left-handers, likely in right field, while Verdugo, Benintendi or Jackie Bradley are reseted.

Pillar started in right field Friday and went 3-for-5 with a double, three RBI and a run scored in a 13-2 win over the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke made the surprising decision to sit lefty-hitting Alex Verdugo against left-hander Tommy Milone, opting instead for the right-handed-hitting Pillar. The decision proved to be a sage one. Verdugo slashed .327/.358/.485/.843 over 109 plate appearances last year, so it's hard to believe he'll be platooned after what the Red Sox sent to the Dodgers to acquire him. Pillar is expected to start whenever a lefty is on the mound, per Christopher Smith of MassLive.com, but he could replace Andrew Benintendi or Jackie Bradley, not just Verdugo.

Pillar and Jose Peraza are in consideration for the leadoff role against lefties, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

EDGE Analysis

Andrew Benintendi is expected to lead off against righties but may not wind up getting that assignment against same-sided pitching. A part-time leadoff role would boost Pillar's value, but he's likely to be on the bench against right-handers, which could limit his viability to deeper leagues. Additionally, with on-base percentages no higher than .303 in any of the last four seasons, it's not clear that Pillar is the best choice for the task.

Pillar is expected to be in the lineup whenever the Red Sox face a left-hander, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

With J.D. Martinez expected to serve as the everyday designated hitter, the door is open for the right-handed hitting Pillar to be the fourth outfielder. That puts him in line to replace any of the three left-handed-hitting starters -- Andrew Benintendi, Jackie Bradley or Alex Verdugo -- against southpaws.

Pillar is batting .355/.394/.484 with four doubles and two RBI over 12 spring appearances.

EDGE Analysis

Pillar joined the Red Sox during the second week of spring training and was immediately penciled in as a reliable backup at all three outfield spots. When news broke that Alex Verdugo, who was acquired from the Dodgers in the Mookie Betts trade, may not be ready for the start of the season due to a stress fracture in his back, Pillar was presumed to be the logical fill-in starter in right field. Recent events leading MLB to push out Opening Day two weeks might give Verdugo enough time to be ready. In that event, Pillar goes back to being a backup and possible fill-in for center fielder Jackie Bradley, who has a history over extended batting slumps.