Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Surprise return for Game 162
Rotowire
Contreras (hand) will serve as the designated hitter and bat third in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Cubs, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
Contreras recently expressed concern about his availability for the wild-card round after being unable to swing a bat Wednesday or Thursday. However, it now seems he's in the clear to face off against the Yankees next week, so long as he makes it through Sunday's game without a setback. Contreras leads the Red Sox in home runs (27), RBI (81) and OBP (.387) with one game to play in the regular season.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Uncertain for wild-card round
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Contreras (hand) expressed concern Thursday about his availability for Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series next week, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. "I'm working hard with the trainers, the hand is slowly getting better," Contreras said. "But I haven't been able to swing the last two days. I'll be honest with the team. I know Tuesday is a really important game. It's a really important series, and I'll be completely honest with the team."
Contreras swung a bat prior to Tuesday's series opener against Cleveland, but he was unable to repeat the exercise Wednesday or Thursday. Additional imaging was done Wednesday, which confirmed there is no fracture in Contreras' right hand, and the Red Sox are still holding out hope that Contreras will improve in the coming days. Boston is expected to face the division-rival Yankees in the first round of the playoffs.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Doesn't expect to play Friday
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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.
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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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Held out again Thursday
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Contreras (hand) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Guardians.
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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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Remaining on bench Tuesday
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Contreras (hand) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Guardians, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
It's the fourth straight absence due to a bruised right hand for Contreras, and there's no reason for the Red Sox to rush him back into action since their playoff seeding is all but set. Nick Sogard will receive another start at first base Tuesday for Boston.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Out again Saturday
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Contreras (hand) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Contreras will miss a second consecutive start after leaving Thursday's contest with a bruised right hand. Nick Sogard will slide over to first base while Contreras sits, giving Isiah Kiner-Falefa a start at second.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Not in lineup Friday
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Contreras (hand) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.
Contreras was hit on the right hand with a pitch in Thursday's win over the Rangers but avoided a fracture and has been diagnosed with a bruised hand. Nick Sogard will start at first base and bat second against Tampa Bay lefty Ian Seymour on Friday.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Diagnosed with bruised right hand
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Interim manager Chad Tracy said after Thursday's win over the Rangers that Contreras has a bruised right hand and is considered day-to-day, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
He appears to have dodged a serious injury after getting plunked in the hand by a 92.3-mph sinker from Jakob Junis in the eighth inning Thursday, as X-rays came back negative. It's unclear if Contreras will be available for Friday's series opener against Tampa Bay.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Slugs homer in loss
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Contreras went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to the Rangers.
Contreras belted a two-run homer in the first inning that gave Boston an early lead. The blast was his career-high 27th and accounted for his 81st RBI, which is also a career-best figure.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Beginning assignment Friday
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Contreras (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Portland on Friday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Contreras took batting practice on the field before Tuesday's game against the Angels as the latest step in his recovery from a left hamstring strain. He'd been a candidate to return from the injured list for Friday's series opener against the Royals, but the Sox will instead have him play in a few tune-up games before adding him back to the active roster.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Could be back as soon as Friday
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Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Monday that Contreras (hamstring) will resume running during the team's current series against the Angels and could be activated from the 10-day injured list as soon as Friday's series opener versus the Royals, Marcus Grunfeld of ElEmergente.com reports.
Tracy also added that Contreras could go out on a short rehab assignment before returning to the active roster, but he plans to speak with the first baseman about that possibility later this week. Contreras landed on the IL one week ago because of a left hamstring strain. Mickey Gasper has been filling in at first base for the Red Sox.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Bound for IL with hamstring strain
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The Red Sox placed Contreras on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a left hamstring strain.
Contreras will hit the shelf after experiencing tightness in the hamstring during Sunday's 16-1 loss to the Yankees and exiting the game in the seventh inning. According to Tim Healey of The Boston Globe, Contreras had been playing through the injury for about a month, and it may started to take more of a toll on him over the past week; he slashed just .111/.200/.185 with a 2:8 BB:K over his last seven games. Boston recalled Mickey Gasper from Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move, and the team could end up leaning on a combination of him and Nick Sogard at first base while Contreras is out of the lineup.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Dealing with hamstring tightness
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Contreras (hamstring) was removed from Sunday's 16-1 loss to the Yankees in the seventh inning, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Contreras was replaced in the field by Andruw Monasterio to open the bottom of the seventh inning. Manager Chad Tracy explained after the game that "hamstring was a little tight" for Contreras, and with the team down 6-0 at that point in the game, he didn't want to "push it" with the first baseman's health. Contreras finished his day 0-for-3 with a strikeout, and he can be considered day-to-day ahead of Monday's series opener with Seattle.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Belts 25th homer in blowout win
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Contreras went 2-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run, a double and an additional run scored during the Red Sox's 11-1 win over the Diamondbacks on Monday.
All nine Red Sox starters drove in at least one run during Monday's rout, with Contreras contributing with a solo homer over the Green Monster in the fifth inning. The veteran first baseman has been in a bit of a slump at the plate since August, but his long ball against Arizona was his 25th of the season, surpassing his previous career high that he set in 2019 with the Cubs. For the year, Contreras has a .924 OPS (fourth-best in the majors) with 73 RBI and three steals across 469 plate appearances.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Homers in loss
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Contreras went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays.
Contreras tied the game with a 408-foot blast off Jose Soriano in the fifth inning before walking and scoring a run in the ninth. It was the 34-year-old's first homer in eight August contests, as he entered Wednesday just 4-for-24 without an extra-base hit in the month. On the season, he's slashing .280/.390/.529 with 24 long balls, 71 RBI, 60 runs scored and three steals across 451 plate appearances.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Back in lineup
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Contreras (illness) will start at first base and bat fourth against the Athletics on Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Contreras missed the Red Sox's last two games while fighting off an illness, but he appears to be feeling well enough to return to action Saturday. The 34-year-old has remained hot since the All-Star break, slashing .306/.485/.531 with three homers, nine RBI and 11 runs scored over his last 17 games.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Back at ballpark Friday
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Contreras (illness) returned to Fenway Park on Friday and participated in baseball activities, MLB.com reports.
Contreras was removed from Wednesday's game with dizziness and high temperatures. He could possibly return to the lineup Saturday.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Held out of Boston lineup
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Contreras (illness) is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox.
Contreras was forced to depart Wednesday's game due to illness and will be given some additional rest Thursday. Nick Sogard will fill in at first base and is bat leadoff for the Red Sox in the series finale.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Expected to play Sunday
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Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said after Saturday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers that Contreras (head) is on track to return to the lineup for Sunday's series finale, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Contreras was struck in the head by a pitch during Friday's series opener. He was removed from that game and was held out of Saturday's lineup as a precaution, but since he's not exhibiting any symptoms of a concussion, Contreras looks poised to start at first base Sunday. Nick Sogard filled in for Contreras on Saturday and went 0-for-2 with a walk.
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Red Sox's Willson Contreras: Hit in head, exits game
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Contreras was removed from Friday's game against the Dodgers after getting hit on the head by a pitch, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Contreras ran for himself after getting hit by a 95-mph fastball in the third inning, but he was replaced at first base when the Red Sox went back on defense. He'll presumably be evaluated for a concussion, and the Red Sox should provide more information on his status in the near future. In the meantime, Nick Sogard will act as Boston's first baseman.
