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Brayan Bello Brayan Bello Set for another start
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 9:21 PM
Bello will start Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Analysis: Bello will get another turn in the rotation after tossing eight innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits while striking out 11 batters Saturday versus the Rays. The right-handed pitcher has compiled a 2.28 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 46 strikeouts over 51.1 innings in his last 13 appearances with Boston. |
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Alec Gamboa Alec Gamboa Set to operate as opener
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 9:17 PM
Gamboa will operate as the opening pitcher for the Red Sox in Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Analysis: Gamboa will garner his third start of the season, albeit in a non-traditional fashion once again. The southpaw pitcher has produced a 1.16 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 31 innings in 20 appearances, including two starts, with Boston this season. It's unclear who will follow him out of the bullpen as the team's bulk pitcher, but Jake Bennett is a top candidate. |
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Willson Contreras Willson Contreras Doesn't expect to play Friday
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 8:44 PM
Contreras (hand) still can't swing pain free and doesn't expect to play during Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Analysis: Contreras was held out of the lineup for a sixth straight contest Thursday night against Cleveland, and he now appears to be set to miss at least two more games Friday. The first baseman is dealing with a bruised right hand, and there's a chance that he won't be able to return to action until the postseason. |
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Ranger Suarez Ranger Suarez Five strong innings in loss
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 8:42 PM
Suarez (8-5) took the loss Thursday against Cleveland, striking out five while allowing one run on three hits and one walk in five innings.
Analysis: The lone blemish came in the second inning, when Angel Martinez took Suarez yard for a solo homer. The southpaw still looked sharp for the most part in what was effectively a tune-up start ahead of the postseason, and he's now worked at least five innings while yielding fewer than two runs in four straight outings. His regular season ends with a strong 3.22 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 140:46 K:BB over 148.1 innings in his debut season with the Red Sox. |
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Ceddanne Rafaela Ceddanne Rafaela Back in action Thursday
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 1:46 PM
Rafaela (hamstring) will start in center field and bat sixth Thursday against the Guardians, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Analysis: Rafaela made an early exit from Wednesday's contest due to right hamstring tightness. He underwent imaging Thursday that came back negative for a significant injury, and he's seemingly feeling well enough to return to the lineup without missing a start. The 26-year-old went 1-for-1 before leaving Wednesday's game and is batting .277 since the beginning of August. |
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Roman Anthony Roman Anthony Exiting starting lineup
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 1:38 PM
Anthony is not in the lineup for Thursday's contest versus the Guardians.
Analysis: It's Anthony's first day off since he returned from the 60-day injured list in late August. The 22-year-old is slashing .242/.294/.432 with four home runs across 22 contests since being activated. Jarren Duran will be in left field for the Red Sox on Thursday, and Mickey Gasper will serve as Boston's designated hitter. |
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Willson Contreras Willson Contreras Held out again Thursday
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 1:33 PM
Contreras (hand) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Guardians.
Analysis: It marks the sixth straight absence for Contreras, who is working his way back from a bruised right hand. The Red Sox are considering the slugger day-to-day. Nick Sogard will slot in at first base in Contreras' stead on Thursday. |
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Jarren Duran Jarren Duran Reaches 20 steals in win
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 8:57 AM
Duran went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 1-0 win over the Guardians.
Analysis: Duran singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning and scored the game's lone run. He later singled and stole second base in the eighth, giving the Red Sox a chance to bring in an insurance run. The steal was the 20th of the season for Duran, who has stolen as least 20 bags in four straight seasons. He also joined the 20-homer/20-steal club for the second time in his career. While his .207 batting average has been a drag, Duran's provided legit fantasy value. |
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Ceddanne Rafaela Ceddanne Rafaela Needs imaging on hamstring
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 2:00 AM
Rafaela will undergo an MRI on his right hamstring Thursday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Analysis: Last year's Gold Glove winner in center field and a first-time All-Star this season, Rafaela left Wednesday's game -- his first game back from a right quad strain -- with right hamstring tightness, and manager Chad Tracy revealed afterward that imaging will be necessary. Jarren Duran figures to take back over in center field until Rafaela receives the green light to return once again. |
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Aroldis Chapman Aroldis Chapman Locks down save No. 35 in return
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 9:07 PM
Chapman (lat) struck out the side to earn the save Wednesday against Cleveland.
Analysis: Chapman last pitched Sept. 13 due to a lat issue, but he showed no signs of rust Wednesday in his return to the mound. The star southpaw has now punched out three in back-to-back outings, last blowing a save June 28 against the Yankees. He has a shiny 1.92 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 71:23 K:BB with 35 saves in 37 attempts across 51.2 innings. |
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Sonny Gray Sonny Gray Spins six shutout innings in win
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 9:03 PM
Gray (18-5) earned the win Wednesday against Cleveland, striking out three while allowing four hits and one walk in six scoreless innings.
Analysis: Gray scattered four singles on the evening in what was final scheduled appearance of the regular season. The right-hander is heading into the playoffs with a ton of steam, having logged a quality start in four consecutive outings and seven of his last nine. Wednesday put a bow on an excellent regular season, which saw Gray post a 2.72 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 149:46 K:BB over 169 innings. |
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Ceddanne Rafaela Ceddanne Rafaela Exits early Wednesday
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 6:52 PM
Rafaela was removed from Wednesday's game against the Guardians with right hamstring tightness, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Rafaela appeared to pull up while running to first base during the second inning, and he was eventually replaced in center field when Boston's defense came out for the third. The 26-year-old was playing in his first game back from a right quad injury, and although he's now dealing with an unrelated issue, it's unknown whether he'll be able to play in Thursday's series finale. |
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Garrett Crochet Garrett Crochet Not expected back during regular season
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 4:03 PM
Crochet (lat) is not expected to pitch again before the end of the regular season, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Analysis: The Red Sox had been leaving the door open for Crochet to pitch out of the big-league bullpen before the end of the regular season. Instead, he will throw another live BP session this weekend as he makes his case for the wild-card roster. |
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Nate Eaton Nate Eaton Optioned to Triple-A
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 3:05 PM
The Red Sox optioned Eaton to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Analysis: With Ceddanne Rafaela (quadriceps) returning to the active roster, Eaton loses his spot to close the regular season. Eaton went 3-for-16 across nine games during his latest stint in the majors. He has put up nine homers and 18 steals in 84 games with Worcester this season, but his overall numbers at the Triple-A level are not particularly impressive for a 29-year-old. |
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Willson Contreras Willson Contreras Remaining on bench Wednesday
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 2:15 PM
Contreras (hand) is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Analysis: Make it five consecutive absences for Contreras since he was plunked on his right hand last Thursday. He has not appeared off the bench in any of the Red Sox's last four games. Contreras said he thought his hand was broken initially, but X-rays were negative and he remains day-to-day. |
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Ceddanne Rafaela Ceddanne Rafaela Back from IL
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 2:09 PM
The Red Sox reinstated Rafaela (quadriceps) from the injured list Wednesday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports. The 26-year-old will start in center field and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
Analysis: A right quad strain sent Rafaela to the 10-day injured list earlier this month, but he will return to face lefty Foster Griffin in the second game of the series versus Cleveland. Rafaela bypassed a rehab assignment but has been taking simulated at-bats against the team's Trajekt machine. The 26-year-old sits with a career-best .282/.317/.443 slash line through 135 contests, and he's already matched last year's mark with 3.9 fWAR this season despite having played in 21 fewer games. |
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Payton Tolle Payton Tolle No-decision in final regular-season start
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 9:06 AM
Tolle did not factor into the decision Tuesday against the Guardians, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out five across 5.2 innings.
Analysis: In what will be Tolle's final start of the regular season, the hard-throwing southpaw ended up tossing 91 pitches (63 strikes) and generating 10 whiffs while falling one out short from a quality start. The eight hits allowed were one short of a season worst, though he extended his streak of five-plus strikeouts to six. Tolle didn't initially make the Red Sox's 26-man roster at the end of spring training but was quickly promoted from Triple-A Worcester in late April and stayed with the big club from there. He'll end the regular season with a 9-6 record over 26 starts with a 3.03 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 171:40 K:BB over 148.2 innings. Tolle appears in line to start in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series, which is currently slated for next week on the road against the Yankees. |
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Curtis Mead Curtis Mead Long shot to play in postseason
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 8:20 AM
Red Sox manager Chad Tracy indicated Tuesday that Mead (wrist) is a long shot to be available for the postseason, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Analysis: Mead has been sidelined for almost two months with a fractured left wrist that he suffered in his second plate appearance after joining the Red Sox. He began hitting off a tee last week, but his overall progress has been slow and it seems he's likely to run out of time. Mead is under team control through the 2030 campaign. |
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Mickey Gasper Mickey Gasper Homers as pinch hitter
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 6:27 AM
Gasper entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and swatted a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to Cleveland.
Analysis: Gasper tied the game at 2-2 and remained in the contest as the designated hitter. His bat has quieted down following a power surge (1.000 SLG) that saw him hit eight home runs over a 16-game stretch from mid-August to Sept. 4. In the 14 subsequent games, Gasper has gone 5-for-33 while slugging .333. |
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Nick Sogard Nick Sogard Makes fourth straight start at 1B
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 6:21 AM
Sogard started at first base and went 2-for-5 with a double in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Guardians.
Analysis: Sogard filled in at first base for a fourth consecutive game while Willson Contreras tends to a right hand injury. With Boston having clinched a playoff spot, the team does not have to rush Contreras back, although it would like to see him on the field and swing a bat before the postseason begins. Sogard has gone 3-for-18 during his time filling in. |
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