Rafael Devers Fenway Return: Giants Face Red Sox

Rafael Devers' Fenway return is the entire weekend plot in Boston. The San Francisco Giants open a three-game interleague series at Fenway Park on Friday night, and CBS Sports' Field Level Media preview put the lede where it belongs: Devers is back in Boston for the first time since the Red Sox traded him in June 2025. First pitch is 7:10 p.m. ET. Logan Webb starts for San Francisco. Sonny Gray starts for Boston.

This is not a quiet reunion. NESN, carried by Yahoo Sports, said the Red Sox dealt Devers on June 15, 2025, after months of tension over his defensive role, and brought back pitchers Kyle Harrison, Jordan Hicks, and Jose Bello plus outfielder James Tibbs III. CBS said the sour end started when Devers refused to move off third after Boston signed Alex Bregman. The irony: CBS noted he has played every 2026 game for the Giants at first base or DH.

Rafael Devers Fenway return, in his own words

Devers told the San Jose Mercury News, via CBS, that he feels “very happy going back over there.” He said he loves the fans and is not concerned about the reception because “they were very good to me.” CBS expects some boos, and also refused to erase the résumé: three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, 2018 World Series champion in Boston. Giants manager Tony Vitello kept it flatter. “When the game starts, it's just baseball,” he said, per CBS.

The 29-year-old is the Giants' most dangerous bat in a bad lineup. NESN and StatMuse both have him at .244/.320/.470 with 25 home runs and 69 RBIs, the club leads in both power categories. CBS said he went 1-for-3 with two walks Thursday and has hit safely in five of his last six. Willy Adames hit his 20th homer in Thursday's 5-2 loss to Cleveland, joining Devers and Casey Schmitt (21) at that mark. San Francisco is 52-75 and has dropped eight straight road series.

Logan Webb vs Sonny Gray at Fenway

Friday is the pitching game of the weekend. Webb is 8-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 139 innings, CBS and Baseball-Reference both listed. He has allowed two runs in 20 innings this month after six innings of one-run ball last Saturday against Colorado. Career vs. Boston: 0-1, 5.63 ERA in three starts. Gray is the other side of that card: 15-3, 2.65 ERA in 132 2/3 innings, shutout ball in two of his last three starts, seven scoreless against Pittsburgh last Saturday, and a 15-win season for the first time in 14 years. Career vs. the Giants: 4-1, 3.16 ERA in nine starts, with a win in each of the past two seasons.

Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy, via CBS, said you cannot understate what Gray has done as the rotation's leader after Garrett Crochet went down. Boston is 68-59, third in the AL East, and just finished 16 games in 16 days with a 7-6, 10-inning loss to Arizona on Wednesday. Willson Contreras has three straight multi-hit games. Mickey Gasper, recalled Sunday, hit his first three Red Sox homers in three days. Nick Sogard hit his first career homer Wednesday. The assignment is still the standings.

What the series looks like after Friday

NESN's broadcast map: Friday on NESN at 7:10 p.m. ET, Saturday nationally on FOX at 7:15 p.m. ET, Sunday at 3:15 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The Rafael Devers Fenway return will frame all three. Boston still has a playoff chase. San Francisco still has an eight-series road skid to stop.

Rafael Devers Fenway return FAQ

When does Rafael Devers return to Fenway Park? Friday, August 21, 2026, 7:10 p.m. ET, per CBS Sports and Baseball-Reference. First trip back since the June 15, 2025 trade.

Who is pitching Giants vs Red Sox on Friday? Logan Webb (8-7, 3.50 ERA) against Sonny Gray (15-3, 2.65 ERA), per CBS Sports and StatMuse.

Why did the Red Sox trade Rafael Devers? NESN said the June 15, 2025 deal followed months of tension over his defensive role. CBS said he refused to leave third after Boston signed Alex Bregman. Boston got Harrison, Hicks, Bello, and Tibbs III.