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Brayan Bello Brayan Bello Roughed up in first start of 2026
Tue, Mar 31, 2026, 10:47 PM
Bello (0-1) took the loss against the Astros on Tuesday, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and three walks while striking out two across 4.2 innings.
Analysis: Bello pitched to a 5.65 ERA during spring training, and things didn't get any better in his first regular-season start. Yordan Alvarez took Bello deep in the fifth inning, and four of the next five Astros reached base to bounce Bello from the game. Bello turned in a career-best 3.35 ERA across 29 starts last regular season, but his 4.19 FIP suggested it was a bit of a fluke. Bello will need to pitch better to hold off other starting candidates Johan Oviedo, Kutter Crawford (wrist) and Patrick Sandoval (elbow) once everyone is healthy. Bello's next start is scheduled for Monday against the Brewers. |
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Carlos Narvaez Carlos Narvaez Receiving Tuesday off
Tue, Mar 31, 2026, 3:55 PM
Narvaez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game at Houston, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Narvaez went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts in Monday's series opener and has hits in all three of his starts this season, but he'll head to the bench for Tuesday's contest. Connor Wong will do the catching for Boston righty Brayan Bello. |
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Caleb Durbin Caleb Durbin Taking seat Tuesday
Tue, Mar 31, 2026, 3:49 PM
Durbin is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Astros, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Durbin is hitless through the first four contests of the season and will get a game to reset Tuesday in Houston. Andruw Monasterio will step in at the hot corner and bat sixth for Boston against Astros righty Hunter Brown. |
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Jarren Duran Jarren Duran Not starting Tuesday
Tue, Mar 31, 2026, 3:30 PM
Duran is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Astros, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Duran went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base Opening Day but is hitless across the past three games, though he has still worked four walks during the latter stretch. Masataka Yoshida will receive a start at designated hitter and bat third versus Houston ace Hunter Brown. |
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Brendan Rodgers Brendan Rodgers Back with Boston on MiLB deal
Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 9:20 AM
Rodgers (shoulder) re-signed Friday with the Red Sox on a two-year, minor-league contract, Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com reports.
Analysis: Rodgers is slated to miss the entire 2026 season while recovering from right shoulder labral revision surgery, but the minor-league deal will allow him to conduct his rehab under the supervision of the Red Sox's medical staff. If healthy heading into next spring, Rodgers will likely be given the chance to compete for a spot on Boston's Opening Day roster, but he'll turn 30 in August and could struggle to earn another another opportunity in the majors. Even before his shoulder surgery, Rodgers endured a disappointing, injury plagued 2025 campaign with the Astros in which he slashed just .191/.266/.278 with a 35.9 percent strikeout rate over 128 plate appearances. |
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Andruw Monasterio Andruw Monasterio Enters as pinch hitter
Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 7:59 AM
Monasterio went 1-for-2 with a double in Sunday's 3-2 loss to Cincinnati.
Analysis: Monasterio, who made his first appearance of the regular season, pinch hit for Marcelo Mayer in the seventh inning against a right-handed reliever and remained in the game at second base. The backup gave the Red Sox some hope in the ninth inning with a one-out double, but he was stranded there. With Mayer routinely hitting the bench against left-handers, Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are positioned to be part of a platoon at second base. |
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Connor Wong Connor Wong Draws first start
Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 7:54 AM
Wong started at catcher and went 2-for-3 with a double in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Reds.
Analysis: Wong made his first start of the season, as Carlos Narvaez was given a breather. The former also made an appearance in Saturday's game and didn't have a good at-bat while striking out in the 10th inning. That was a stark reminder of the struggles he endured in 2025, when Wong batted .190 with a .500 OPS and lost the starting gig to Narvaez. As such, Sunday's two-hit effort was an encouraging sign for the backup catcher, who slashed .121/.216/.152 in spring training. |
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Connelly Early Connelly Early Strikes out six in no-decision
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 5:02 PM
Early did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Reds, allowing one run on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts over 5.1 innings.
Analysis: Early exited with a 2-0 lead and a runner on first in the sixth inning before Greg Weissert came on and allowed a three-run homer. The 23-year-old generated just seven swinging strikes in an otherwise solid debut, and it was encouraging to see manager Alex Cora let him reach 96 pitches. The southpaw posted a 2.33 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 29:4 K:BB across 19.2 major-league innings last season and lines up for a home matchup against the Padres next weekend. |
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Wilyer Abreu Wilyer Abreu Homers again Sunday
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 3:55 PM
Abreu went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Reds.
Analysis: Abreu gave the Red Sox an early lead with a two-run blast in the fourth inning. The 26-year-old is off to a torrid start, going 6-for-13 with four extra-base hits and four RBI while starting three straight contests. He posted a .247/.317/.469 slash with 22 homers last regular season and could take a step forward with manager Alex Cora planning to deploy him more often against lefties in 2026. |
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Carlos Narvaez Carlos Narvaez Taking seat Sunday
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 11:17 AM
Narvaez is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Narvaez started behind the plate in the first two games of the season and will get a breather in Sunday's series finale after going 3-for-6 with a run and a strikeout. Connor Wong will instead do the catching for lefty Connelly Early. |
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Ceddanne Rafaela Ceddanne Rafaela Out of Sunday's lineup
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 11:10 AM
Rafaela is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Rafaela went 3-for-9 with an RBI and a run scored in the first two games of the season and will receive a day off for Sunday's series finale in Cincinnati. Jarren Duran will shift to center field while Roman Anthony receives a turn at designated hitter. |
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Jarren Duran Jarren Duran Steals base, scores in loss
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:15 AM
Duran went 0-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 6-5 extra-innings loss to the Reds. He was also hit by a pitch.
Analysis: Duran has reached base four times through the first two games of the season and stolen a base in each contest. He's off to a quick start and looking to record a fourth consecutive season with 20-plus steals; Duran's stolen 82 bags (97 attempts) over the previous three seasons. He's served as a DH thus far, as Boston manager Alex Cora looks to find playing time for five outfielders. |
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Ryan Watson Ryan Watson Memorable MLB debut
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 8:50 AM
Watson allowed three walks while striking out one over 2.1 hitless and scoreless innings in Saturday's 6-5 extra-innings loss to Cincinnati.
Analysis: Watson, a Rule 5 pick, made his major-league debut in the sixth inning in a not so low-leverage situation. The Red Sox were trailing by two runs when the rookie entered with two outs and two runners on. After walking the first batter he faced, Watson twice thought he'd struck out Eugenio Suarez on called third strikes and walked off the mound, but both calls were challenged and overturned. The right-hander eventually gathered himself and got the slugger to ground out to second base before working scoreless seventh and eighth innings. Despite the tension surrounding Saturday's appearance, Watson is expected to remain in a low-leverage role. |
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Trevor Story Trevor Story Eventful day in loss
Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 8:32 AM
Story went 1-for-6 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-5 extra-innings loss to the Reds.
Analysis: Story's third-inning homer was his first of the season, but the at-bat with more impact occurred in the eighth inning with two outs, two runners on and Boston trailing by one. Home plate umpire CB Bucknor, who had six ball/strike calls overturned by ABS overturned and potentially would have had more had Boston not used up all of its challenges early in the game, rung up Story on what appeared to be a check swing. Without a challenge to use, Story went old school and threw a tantrum at home plate; Red Sox manager Alex Cora came out to protect his player and was eventually ejected. Story is 2-for-11 through two games with an RBI in each contest. |
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Wilyer Abreu Wilyer Abreu First home run of season in loss
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 8:41 PM
Abreu went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two RBI in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Reds.
Analysis: Abreu took a splitter from Emilio Pagan over the wall in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game 5-5 and send it to extra innings. Abreu had an RBI double two innings prior and is now 3-for-9 at the plate with the one home run and two RBI through two games to begin the regular season. Abreu should be in the lineup again Sunday versus Reds right-hander Rhett Lowder. |
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Sonny Gray Sonny Gray Surrenders four runs Saturday
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 8:35 PM
Gray allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and one walk across four innings in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Reds. He struck out five.
Analysis: Making his regular-season debut with the Red Sox, Gray labored through the first inning, needing 35 pitches to get through the frame while allowing two runs. Gray allowed at least one run in each of the first three innings and served up a solo home run to Sal Stewart in the third. The right-hander will look to be more efficient in his next scheduled start against the Padres next weekend. |
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Masataka Yoshida Masataka Yoshida Slated for three starts
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 1:34 PM
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Yoshida will start in three of the team's next five games, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Yoshida has not been in the Red Sox's starting lineup for the first two games of the season, but Cora indicated that the 32-year-old will get some opportunities before long. Cora relayed that he's comfortable with Yoshida playing in left field, and when the latter does play, his presence will seemingly bump one of Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu or Roman Anthony out of the lineup. Yoshida didn't make his 2025 debut until early July while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and he went on to slash .266/.307/.388 with four home runs and three steals across 205 plate appearances. |
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Tommy Kahnle Tommy Kahnle Stays behind in Florida
Sat, Mar 28, 2026, 9:27 AM
Kahnle remained in Florida to build up for the regular season in a more controlled environment, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Kahnle was a late addition to Boston's training camp, signing just seven days before the regular-season opener, and failed to secure a roster spot before the Red Sox headed north. He will eventually go to Triple-A Worcester, but he is listed as on the "development list," meaning he's not yet on the WooSox's active roster. Kahnle is locked into his deal through at least May 1, when an upward-mobility clause kicks in that allows him to pursue other opportunities. If he pitches well at Triple-A, Kahnle is expected to be part of Boston's bullpen before then. |
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Aroldis Chapman Aroldis Chapman Slams door for first save
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 10:29 PM
Chapman picked up the save Thursday against the Reds, throwing a clean ninth inning.
Analysis: Although Chapman failed to record a strikeout, he managed to keep the ball in the yard via three flyouts to nail down a save in his first appearance of the campaign. After posting a career-best 1.17 ERA and 0.70 WHIP over 67 regular-season appearances in 2025, the hard-throwing left-hander appears to be locked in as Boston's top closer to begin the season. |
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Garrett Crochet Garrett Crochet Shuts down Reds in opener
Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 10:23 PM
Crochet (1-0) picked up the win Thursday against the Reds, allowing no runs on three hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out eight.
Analysis: The All-Star southpaw found himself in midseason form in his season debut, firing six shutout frames and also notably escaping a bases-loaded jam in the sixth frame. Crochet was also able to throw 80 pitches Thursday, and his final start during spring training saw him hurl 89 pitches. He'll be looking to build up to close to a full workload in his next start, which is slated to come in Houston next week. |
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