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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Marcelo Mayer Marcelo Mayer Impacts win off bench Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 9:30 PM Mayer entered Thursday's game as a pinch hitter and went 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored in a 3-0 win over Cincinnati. He finished the game at second base. Analysis: Mayer was held out of the starting lineup against a lefty but got his chance after the Reds' Andrew Abbott was removed. Pinch-hitting for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Mayer led off the seventh inning with a double and scored the game's first run. He later led off the ninth with a single that triggered a two-run frame. Red Sox manager Alex Cora plans a three-player platoon at second base with Mayer against righties, while Kiner-Falefa and Andruw Monasterio handle southpaws. Mayer should get his first start Saturday against Reds' right-hander Brady Singer.
Roman Anthony Roman Anthony On base four times Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 9:20 PM Anthony batted leadoff and went 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Thursday's 3-0 victory over the Reds. Analysis: None of Anthony's three hits made a difference, but his ABS challenge in the top of the ninth inning turned a potential inning-ending strikeout into a walk. Two batters later, the Red Sox added two insurance runs. Anthony is expected to bat leadoff this season and could be among the league leaders in plate appearances.
Marcelo Mayer Marcelo Mayer Sitting versus lefty Thu, Mar 26, 2026, 12:08 PM Mayer is out of the lineup for Thursday's Opening Day matchup with the Reds, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports. Analysis: Manager Alex Cora indicated earlier this week that Mayer would begin the season in a platoon at second base, so it's no surprise he's on the bench in favor of Isiah Kiner-Falefa with lefty Andrew Abbott on the mound for Cincinnati. Mayer had a .674 OPS over 44 regular-season games in his first taste of the majors last year and batted just .154 versus southpaws.
Garrett Whitlock Garrett Whitlock Impressive in loss Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 12:22 PM Whitlock threw a perfect inning while striking out one batter in a 9-6 loss against Minnesota on Monday. Analysis: Whitlock appeared in four games this spring for Boston, allowing zero earned runs in four innings pitched. The right-hander also made four appearances for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, allowing just one earned run in 3.1 innings. The 29-year-old posted a career-best 31 percent strikeout rate while putting up a 2.25 ERA for Boston in 2025. Whitlock will once again serve as a high-leverage arm for a Boston bullpen that still features Aroldis Chapman and Greg Weissert but a mix of unproven arms after that.
Anthony Seigler Anthony Seigler Shelved with knee tendinopathy Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 12:19 PM Boston placed Seigler on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to left knee patellar tendinopathy. Analysis: Acquired from the Brewers on Feb. 9, Seigler didn't end up making any appearances in spring training while recovering from a knee injury that first surfaced while he played in the Dominican Winter League during the offseason. The Red Sox haven't indicated where Seigler stands in his recovery, so the 26-year-old appears destined to miss more than the minimum 10 days. Seigler has two minor-league options remaining and could be sent out to Triple-A Worcester to play regularly once he's activated from the IL.
Patrick Sandoval Patrick Sandoval Opening season on shelf Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 12:14 PM The Red Sox placed Sandoval (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. Analysis: Though Sandoval (elbow) didn't make any Grapefruit League appearances, he was able to throw a three-inning simulated game at extended spring training Monday and should be on track to begin an extended rehab assignment shortly after the minor-league season gets underway this weekend. Sandoval -- who is working his way back from June 2024 internal brace surgery -- could be ready to return from the IL around mid-to-late April, but it's unclear if he'll have a spot in the Boston rotation waiting for him once he's activated from the IL.
Kutter Crawford Kutter Crawford Bound for 15-day IL Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 12:11 PM The Red Sox placed Crawford (wrist) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. Analysis: Crawford didn't make any appearances in the Grapefruit League while completing his recovery from the right wrist surgery he underwent last July. However, the right-hander was able to cover a few innings in a minor-league spring training game earlier this week, so he could be ready to head out on an extended rehab assignment shortly after the minor-league season gets underway. Crawford isn't expected to be ready to return from the IL until late April or early May, and it's not clear if he'll be in line for a spot in the Boston rotation once he gets activated.