ST. PETERSBURG — The Boston Red Sox received encouraging news on first baseman Willson Contreras as they monitor a wave of injuries over the final 10 days of the regular season, holding firm possession of the second American League Wild Card spot with a chance to clinch as early as this weekend. The club plans to operate conservatively to have its key players healthy for the postseason, which begins Sept. 29.
Contreras, the team’s most productive hitter this season, exited in the top of the eighth inning Thursday night in Texas after being hit on the top of his right hand by a pitch. He said in the moment it felt like a fracture, but X-rays taken at the ballpark were negative. Interim manager Chad Tracy said no follow-up imaging was done Friday and Contreras spent time in the training room without his hand taped. “Obviously, sore with some swelling,” Tracy said. “So nothing new other than just over the next couple of days, they'll work on treatment, on getting the swelling out, see if he can get grip strength back, and then we'll go from there. So just day to day.” Asked about additional scans, Tracy added, “Not right now. Right now, with the initial one, they're optimistic. Just work on the swelling and see how he progresses over the next couple days, and then determine if they feel like they need more. But right now, they're just going to work on that.”
Closer Aroldis Chapman has been dealing with lat tightness sustained while working out prior to Tuesday’s game, which explained why Garrett Whitlock closed Thursday’s win in Texas. Chapman downplayed the issue Friday, saying he felt healthy enough to play catch before the opener of the three-game series against the Rays but the team told him not to. He will not pitch this weekend and expects to return during the final homestand starting Tuesday. “I’m not worried at all,” Chapman said. “From the first time I felt it to today, I feel very good. I was going to go out and throw, but the team wants to take it slow, and they want me to take my time.“ Asked if the goal is to be 100% for the first game of the playoffs on Sept. 29, he said, “Yeah, of course. A hundred percent.”
Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela has not played since Sept. 2 due to a right quad strain and is unlikely to get a rehab game with Triple-A Worcester because that season ends Sunday. Tracy said Rafaela is progressing, noting, “I think he got close to 90% of his acceleration yesterday. So not ready yet, but he's moving quickly in the right direction, which is good.” If he does not play for Worcester, the plan is to get him live at-bats through live batting practice and the Trajekt system. Left-hander Garrett Crochet, out since April 25 with a left shoulder injury, is still trying to return as a reliever in the postseason and will throw his second up-and-down bullpen session of the week Saturday at Fenway Park. Tracy said Crochet must face hitters by next week to have a chance for the start of the postseason: “I would say we're to the point where these next five days or so are going to be pretty telling. How does the side go, and what can we do with him early next week? And that'll give us a better idea of the answer to that question.” Right-hander Tanner Houck, 13 months removed from Tommy John surgery, will make the fourth and final appearance of his Minor League rehab assignment Saturday for Worcester with roughly 50 pitches and could get a tuneup or two with Boston next week as the club evaluates his playoff availability.
With the postseason approaching, Boston is prioritizing health over short-term availability. Contreras remains day to day while swelling subsides, Chapman is being held out through the weekend in St. Petersburg, and the next several days will determine the paths for Rafaela, Crochet and Houck before the final homestand.