As the longest-tenured player on the Red Sox, not to mention someone who has strong leadership qualities, Xander Bogaerts has more jobs these days than just hitting the baseball or playing shortstop.

With his team off to a demoralizing 6-13 start in which the pitching has been shaky, the offense has underperformed and the defense has botched too many routine plays, Bogaerts has been encouraging his teammates not to get deflated.

“You just have to be there for your teammates, especially at a time like this,” Bogaerts said. “When you see guys with their heads down, you just have to go and remind them that you’re here for them and anything that they need and you want to see them succeed so bad. It’s also tough for you seeing it because you know what these guys are capable of. It’s been rough. We just have to find ways to have fun and hopefully that’ll change.”

Bogaerts mentioned the word “fun” several times in his Zoom session prior to Friday night’s game at Yankee Stadium -- an obvious indicator that the Red Sox haven’t been having a lot of fun lately.

“Obviously you can’t control what’s happened already. Those games are over with,” Bogaerts said. “Just try to control what we have going forward. Just try to go out there and have some fun. I know it’s been a little hard for us on that part, but we’ve just got to go out there and have fun and play like we’re having fun."

Considering that Bogaerts is a fierce competitor who owns two World Series rings, this start has been especially tough on him. But he was boosted a little bit when a reporter informed him the Red Sox also started 6-13 last year and wound up winning 84 games.

Of course, there are some obvious differences. This Boston team has precious little starting pitching. And this season is 60 games, rather than 162.

“I actually didn’t know that stat,” Bogaerts said. “That’s very encouraging news you’re giving me. So we’re in the same situation. Obviously this year has been a little bit rough, a bit tough for us.

“That’s actually one of the best things I’ve heard this year at this point. Obviously, the record is not as we want it, but we definitely turned it on last year because we finished all right. But this is another year, and it would be nice if we could go on another run like that this year, too.”

Peraza feeling better

Things got so out of hand in Thursday’s 17-8 loss to the Rays that manager Ron Roenicke called in two position players to pitch in the ninth inning. That was because the first one -- infielder José Peraza -- got smoked below the right knee on a liner just three batters into his outing.

Roenicke likely would have kept Peraza out of the lineup anyway on Friday night against nasty Yankees ace righty Gerrit Cole, but he should be fine to start against lefties James Paxton and J.A. Happ on Saturday and Sunday.

“He’s doing good,” said Roenicke. “Thank goodness. That ball really smoked him. I was concerned. But he was actually doing well when I went in after the game, and [I] actually walked off the plane last night right behind him and he wasn’t limping going down the steps, which I was surprised. Little sore today, but they worked on him and he’s actually feeling pretty good.”

Rule 5 Draft pick Jonathan Araúz got the start at second base, and he’s performed well all week, especially at the plate.

“Well that’s why he’s out there, just because he’s played so well recently,” said Roenicke. “I think the plan was really at the beginning [of the season] more Chavis and Peraza [at second base], and [based on] how they were doing, whoever was playing better, we were going to put him out there more often.

“We know [Tzu-Wei] Lin is still going to pitch in there, too. But I think just because of the way Jonathan has played lately … I know [he made his first error yesterday], but we think he’s done a really nice job defensively. That’s why he’s out there again.”